helming

Verb (1)

helm (third-person singular simple present helms, present participle helming, simple past and past participle helmed)

1. (transitive) To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel).
   • [A] wild wave in the wild North-sea, / […] overbears the bark, / And him that helms it, […]1859, Alfred Tennyson, “Elaine”, in Idylls of the King, London: Edward Moxon & Co., […], →OCLC, page 172
2. (figuratively, transitive) To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization).
   • Ile ſtriue to be nor great nor ſmale, / To liue nor die, fate helmeth all, / VVhen I can breath no longer, then, / Heauen take all, there put Amen.1601 (date written), Iohn Marston [i.e., John Marston], What You Will, London: […] G[eorge] Eld, for Thomas Thorppe, published 1607, →OCLC, Act II, signature C3, verso

Verb (2)

helm (third-person singular simple present helms, present participle helming, simple past and past participle helmed)

1. (archaic, poetic, transitive) To cover (a head) with a helmet; to provide (someone) with a helmet; to helmet.
   • Oh Noble Conon, / You taught my tender Hands the Trade of VVar; / And novv again you Helm your hoary Head, / And under double vveight of Age and Arms, / Aſſert your Countries Freedom, and my Crovvn.c. 1684 – 1691 (date written), [John] Dryden, King Arthur: Or, the British Worthy. A Dramatick Opera. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], published 1691, →OCLC, Act I, page 3

   Synonyms:

   behelm

Verb (3)

helm (third-person singular simple present helms, present participle helming, simple past and past participle helmed)

1. (transitive) To lay out (stalks of corn, or straw) straight to be used for thatching roofs; to yelm.

See all 22 meanings of helm