HELM

helm

(noun) (figurative) a position of leadership; “the President is at the helm of the Ship of State”

helm

(noun) steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered

helm

(verb) be at or take the helm of; “helm the ship”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Noun

helm (plural helms)

(nautical) The steering apparatus of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.

Synonyms: tiller, wheel

(maritime) The member of the crew in charge of steering the boat.

Synonym: helmsman

(figurative) A position of leadership or control.

One at the place of direction or control; a guide; a director.

(obsolete, UK, dialect) A helve.

Verb

helm (third-person singular simple present helms, present participle helming, simple past and past participle helmed)

To be a helmsman or a member of the helm; to be in charge of steering the boat.

(by extension) To lead (a project, etc.).

Etymology 2

Noun

helm (plural helms)

(rare, poetic) A helmet.

(heraldry) A helmet.

A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain.

Etymology 3

Noun

helm (plural helms)

Alternative form of haulm (a straw)

Proper noun

Helm

The only named wind in the British Isles. It blows westward from the Pennine fells over Cumbria and is often accompanied by a line of clouds on top of the hills called the Helm Bar.

Synonyms

• Helm Wind

Source: Wiktionary


Helm, n.

Definition: See Haulm, straw.

Helm, n. Etym: [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G. helm, Icel. hjalm, and perh. to E. helve.]

1. (Naut.)

Definition: The apparatus by which a ship is steered, comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used of the tiller or wheel alone.

2. The place or office of direction or administration. "The helm of the Commonwealth." Melmoth.

3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman; hence, a guide; a director. The helms o' the State, who care for you like fathers. Shak.

4. Etym: [Cf. Helve.]

Definition: A helve. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Helm amidships, when the tiller, rudder, and keel are in the same plane.

– Helm aport, when the tiller is borne over to the port side of the ship.

– Helm astarboard, when the tiller is borne to the starboard side.

– Helm alee, Helm aweather, when the tiller is borne over to the lee or to the weather side.

– Helm hard alee or hard aport, hard astarboard, etc., when the tiller is borne over to the extreme limit.

– Helm port, the round hole in a vessel's counter through which the rudderstock passes.

– Helm down, helm alee.

– Helm up, helm aweather.

– To ease the helm, to let the tiller come more amidships, so as to lessen the strain on the rudder.

– To feel the helm, to obey it.

– To right the helm, to put it amidships.

– To shift the helm, to bear the tiller over to the corresponding position on the opposite side of the vessel. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Helm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Helmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Helming.]

Definition: To steer; to guide; to direct. [R.] The business he hath helmed. Shak. A wild wave . . . overbears the bark, And him that helms it. Tennyson.

Helm, n. Etym: [AS. See Helmet.]

1. A helmet. [Poetic]

2. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Helm, v. t.

Definition: To cover or furnish with a helm or helmet. [Perh. used only as a past part. or part. adj.] She that helmed was in starke stours. Chaucer.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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