Source etymology 1
Original entry ↗The tiller (or, in a large ship, the wheel) which is used to steer the rudder of a marine vessel; also, the entire steering apparatus of a vessel. · The use of a helm (sense 1); also, the amount of space through which a helm is turned. · The member of a vessel's crew in charge of steering the vessel; a helmsman or helmswoman. · Something used to control or steer; also (obsolete), a handle of a tool or weapon; a haft, a helve.
To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel). · To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization).
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
Relationships mentioned by the source
These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.
- Root classification mention*ḱel-ine-pro
- Root classification mention*ḱelh₂-ine-pro
- Inherited-form mentionhelmenm
- Inherited-form mentionhelmaang · helm, tiller
- Inherited-form mention*helmôgem-pro · handle; helm, tiller
- Derivation mention*ḱel-ine-pro · to cover
- Cognate mentionHolmde · beam
- Cognate mentionhjálmnon
This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.
Inspect preserved source fields
Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
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"2": "ine-pro",
"3": "*ḱel-",
"4": "*ḱelh₂-",
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"The tiller (or, in a large ship, the wheel) which is used to steer the rudder of a marine vessel; also, the entire steering apparatus of a vessel.",
"The use of a helm (sense 1); also, the amount of space through which a helm is turned.",
"The member of a vessel's crew in charge of steering the vessel; a helmsman or helmswoman.",
"Something used to control or steer; also (obsolete), a handle of a tool or weapon; a haft, a helve."
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"To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel).",
"To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization)."
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