She that helmed was in starke stours. --Chaucer.
The business he hath helmed. --Shak.
A wild wave . . . overbears the bark, And him that
helms it. --Tennyson.
2. The place or office of direction or administration. ``The
helm of the Commonwealth.'' --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.
4. [Cf. {Helve}.] A helve. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
{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} or {hard aport}, {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.
{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.
2. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain. [Prov.
Eng.] --Halliwell.