helm
1[ helm ]
/ hɛlm /
noun
Nautical.
- a wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered.
- the entire steering apparatus of a ship.
- the angle with the fore-and-aft line made by a rudder when turned: 15-degree helm.
the place or post of control: A stern taskmaster was at the helm of the company.
verb (used with object)
to steer; direct.
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Origin of helm
1before 900; Middle English helme,Old English helma; cognate with Middle High German halme, helm handle, Old Norse hjalm rudder
OTHER WORDS FROM helm
helmless, adjectiveDefinition for helm (2 of 2)
helm2
[ helm ]
/ hɛlm /
noun
Also heaume. Also called great helm. a medieval helmet, typically formed as a single cylindrical piece with a flat or raised top, completely enclosing the head.
Archaic. a helmet.
verb (used with object)
to furnish or cover with a helmet.
Origin of helm
2before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German helm; akin to Old English helan to cover. See hull1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for helm
British Dictionary definitions for helm (1 of 2)
helm1
/ (hɛlm) /
noun
nautical
- the wheel, tiller, or entire apparatus by which a vessel is steered
- the position of the helm: that is, on the side of the keel opposite from that of the rudder
a position of leadership or control (esp in the phrase at the helm)
verb
(tr) to direct or steer
Derived forms of helm
helmless, adjectiveWord Origin for helm
Old English helma; related to Old Norse hjalm rudder, Old High German halmo
British Dictionary definitions for helm (2 of 2)
helm2
/ (hɛlm) /
noun
an archaic or poetic word for helmet
verb
(tr) archaic, or poetic to supply with a helmet
Word Origin for helm
Old English helm; related to helan to cover, Old Norse hjalmr, Gothic hilms, Old High German helm helmet, Sanskrit śárman protection
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Idioms and Phrases with helm
helm
see at the helm.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.