Helm Means a Ship's Wheel and a Helmet
A helm is the steering apparatus of a ship. The same root gives the word for a protective headpiece.
A helm is the wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered, and in older English a helmet. Both descend from a Germanic root meaning to cover or protect: a helmet covers the head, and the helm was originally the handle covering or controlling the rudder. The steering sense is Old English *helma*, the armour sense *helm*. *At the helm* means in charge, and *take the helm* means to assume control, both from the ship.
- A ship's steering gear. *Take the helm.*
- A helmet (archaic). *A knight's helm.*
- In charge. *At the helm.*
- Helmsman — the steerer. *A helmsman.*
- Old English — *helma*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | helm | The helm. |
| Plural | helms | Helms. |
| Agent | helmsman | A helmsman. |
| Related | helmet | A helmet. |
| Old English | helm | A helmet. |
- She took the helm at dawn.Sailing.
- He is at the helm of the company.Idiom.
- A knight's helm.Archaic.
Steering terms still in use
- Helm — the steering apparatus as a whole
- Tiller — a bar attached directly to the rudder
- Rudder — the blade that turns the vessel
- Starboard — from steering board, the side the oar was on
- Port — the side turned to the harbour, opposite the steering oar
Old English *helma*, a rudder or tiller, and *helm*, a helmet, both from a Germanic root meaning to cover.
Are helm and helmet related?
Yes. Both come from a Germanic root meaning to cover or protect, one covering the head and one controlling the rudder.
Why is the right side of a ship called starboard?
From steering board. The steering oar was mounted on that side, so the other side was turned to the port.