helmn. See Haulm, straw.()n.[OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G. helm, Icel. hjlm, 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.(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.)[Cf. Helve.]4. A helve.()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.()v. t. To steer; to guide; to direct.()The business he hath helmed. (Shak.)A wild wave . . . overbears the bark,
And him that helms it. (Tennyson.)n.[AS. See Helmet.]1. A helmet.()2. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain.(Halliwell.)v. t. To cover or furnish with a helm or helmet.()She that helmed was in starke stours. (Chaucer.)