Middle English Dictionary Entry
helm(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | helm(e n. |
| Etymology | OE helma |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The helm of a ship, tiller; (b) fig., a position of authority; (c) ~ henge, a gudgeon; ~ rother, a quarter rudder with a helm; ~ wale, tiller of a side rudder.
Associated quotations
a
- (1350) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1123 : Vn piec de Mesrime achat pur vn gouernayl al vn escomer..En vn helm achat pur lun escomer.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.17 : He wente into a boot..and took þe helme [L clavum gubernaculi] in his hond, and was steresman.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)59 : Þe Roþur was nouþer Ok ne Elm..Hit was Edward þe þridde..Þe prince his sone bar vp his helm.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)149 : Þen hurled on a hepe þe helme & þe sterne.
- 1409(1338) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2475 : [A ship called the Bernard de la Toure] sanz rother, helme, & cokke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)235 : Helme or þe rothere of a schyp: Temo.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12060 : Þe sail on ȝerde þey feste ful fast..Roþeres, helmes, right for to stande.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)118a : In þe maistres gouernance of the helm [L clauum] lith þe victorie of þe bataille.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4728 : Þe sterys man toke þe helme in hande, he turned þe schip agayne to lande.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)62b : A helme of A shipe: hic Clauus.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)31/272 : The top and the sayll both will I make The helme and the castell also will I take.
b
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)144.253 (v.1:p.429) : Whanne I was not wurthi to be put at an oore, I was put at the helm -- in the heed of gouernaunce of a cherche.
c
- (1294-6) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1124 : In vno ligno..ad Gubernile Bargie..In vno ligno..ad Helmewale eiusdem ij d..In vno ligno empto..ad Helmewale liberi Gubernilis iij d.
- (1356) *Pipe Roll (PRO) 30 Edw.III m.39d [OD col.] : Helm henges.
- 1361(1263) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1123 : De qualibet Navi cum helmerother veniente infra metas predicte Civitatis.