helm

Noun

1. The tiller (or, in a large ship, the wheel) which is used to control the rudder of a marine vessel; also, the entire steering apparatus of a vessel.
2. (broadly) The use of a helm (sense 1); also, the amount of space through which a helm is turned.
3. (broadly) The member of a vessel's crew in charge of steering the vessel; a helmsman or helmswoman.
4. (broadly) Something used to control or steer; also (obsolete), a handle of a tool or weapon; a haft, a helve.
5. (figuratively) A position of control or leadership.
6. (figuratively) One in the position of controlling or directing; a controller, a director, a guide.

Verb

1. (transitive) To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel).
2. (figuratively, transitive) To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization).

Verb

To cover (a head) with a helmet; to provide (someone) with a helmet; to helmet.

Verb

To lay out (stalks of corn, or straw) straight to be used for thatching roofs; to yelm.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hɛlm/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: helm

Inherited from Old English: helma

Cognate with German: Holm

Cognate with Old Norse: hjálm

Inherited from Old English: helm

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌷𐌹𐌻𐌼𐍃

Cognate with Old Frisian: helm

Cognate with Western Frisian: helm

Cognate with Old High German: helm

Cognate with Middle High German: helm

Cognate with German: Helm

Cognate with Italian: elmo

Cognate with Old French: helme

Cognate with French: heaume

Cognate with Spanish: yelmo

Cognate with Old Norse: hjalmr

Cognate with Danish: hjelm

Cognate with Norwegian: hjelm

Cognate with Swedish: hjelm

Cognate with Old Saxon: helm

Cognate with Low German: Helm

Cognate with Middle Dutch: helm

Cognate with Dutch: helm

Inherited from Middle English: helmen

Inherited from Old English: helmian

Inherited from Middle English: halm

Inherited from Middle English: healm

Inherited from Old English: healm

Cognate with Low German: helm

In summary

The noun is derived from Middle English helm, helme (“tiller of a ship”), from Old English helma (“helm, tiller”), from Proto-Germanic *helmô (“handle; helm, tiller”), either from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”) or from the same source as haulm and helm (“bentgrass, straw”) (see below), Proto-Indo-European *ḱélh₂-m(on)- (“reed, hollow stalk”), one form of which then developed a specialized meaning “handle” in Germanic.
The verb is derived from the noun.
Cognates
* German Holm (“beam”)
* Old Norse hjálm

Synonyms

rudder

tiller

steer

steering wheel

wheel

🛞

take the tiller

tilt

handlebars

helmet

helmsman

manage

control

handle

operate the rudder

cap

sturing wheel

controls

drive

govern

motivator

oar

paddle

pilot

🧑‍✈️

steering gear

steering-wheel

stern

suborn

steering oar

Translations

timone

gouvernail

Steuer

timón

ster

roer

barre

leme

Ruder

timon

stuur

Steuerruder

yelmo

τιμόνι

πηδάλιο