Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Helm?

\Helm\, n. See {Haulm}, straw.
\Helm\, n. [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G. helm, Icel. hj[=a]lm, and perh. to E. helve.] 1. (Naut.) 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. [Cf. {Helve}.] 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}.] 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. [AS. See {Helmet}.] 1. A helmet. [Poetic] 2. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain. [Prov. Eng.] --Halliwell.
\Helm\, v. t. 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.