helm

n. [ OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G. helm, Icel. hjālm, and perh. to E. helve. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Naut.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered, comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used of the tiller or wheel alone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The place or office of direction or administration. “The helm of the Commonwealth.” Melmoth. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman; hence, a guide; a director. [ 1913 Webster ]

The helms o' the State, who care for you like fathers. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. [ Cf. Helve. ] A helve. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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,
Helm hard aport,
Helm 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Helmed p. pr. & vb. n. Helming. ] To steer; to guide; to direct. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The business he hath helmed. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wild wave . . . overbears the bark,
And him that helms it. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Haulm, straw. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cover or furnish with a helm or helmet. [ Perh. used only as a past part. or part. adj. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She that helmed was in starke stours. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Guidance; direction. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Covered with a helmet. [ 1913 Webster ]

The helmed cherubim
Are seen in glittering ranks. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. helmet, a dim of helme, F. heaume; of Teutonic origin; cf. G. helm, akin to AS. & OS. helm, D. helm, helmet, Icel. hjālmr, Sw. hjelm, Dan. hielm, Goth. hilms; and prob. from the root of AS. helan to hide, to hele; cf. also Lith. szalmas, Russ. shleme, Skr. çarman protection. √17. Cf. Hele, Hell, Helm a helmet. ] 1. (Armor) A defensive covering for the head. See Casque, Headpiece, Morion, Sallet, and Illust. of Beaver. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) The representation of a helmet over shields or coats of arms, denoting gradations of rank by modifications of form. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A helmet-shaped hat, made of cork, felt, metal, or other suitable material, worn as part of the uniform of soldiers, firemen, etc., also worn in hot countries as a protection from the heat of the sun. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. That which resembles a helmet in form, position, etc.; as: (a) (Chem.) The upper part of a retort. Boyle. (b) (Bot.) The hood-formed upper sepal or petal of some flowers, as of the monkshood or the snapdragon. (c) (Zool.) A naked shield or protuberance on the top or fore part of the head of a bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

Helmet beetle (Zool.), a leaf-eating beetle of the family Chrysomelidae, having a short, broad, and flattened body. Many species are known. --
Helmet shell (Zool.), one of many species of tropical marine univalve shells belonging to Cassis and allied genera. Many of them are large and handsome; several are used for cutting as cameos, and hence are called cameo shells. See King conch. --
Helmet shrike (Zool.), an African wood shrike of the genus Prionodon, having a large crest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Wearing a helmet; furnished with or having a helmet or helmet-shaped part; galeate. [ 1913 Webster ]