heaume \heaume\ n.
   1. a large medieval helmet supported on the shoulders; called
      also helm.
      [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

	

	Helm \Helm\, v. t.
   To cover or furnish with a helm or helmet. [Perh. used only
   as a past part. or part. adj.]
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         She that helmed was in starke stours.    --Chaucer.
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	Helm \Helm\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Helmed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Helming.]
   To steer; to guide; to direct. [R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         The business he hath helmed.             --Shak.
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         A wild wave . . . overbears the bark,
         And him that helms it.                   --Tennyson.
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	Helm \Helm\, n. [AS. See Helmet.]
   1. A helmet. [Poetic]
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   2. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain. [Prov.
      Eng.] --Halliwell.
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	Helm \Helm\, n.
   See Haulm, straw.
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	Helm \Helm\, n. [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G.
   helm, Icel. hj[=a]lm, and perh. to E. helve.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Naut.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered,
      comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used
      of the tiller or wheel alone.
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   2. The place or office of direction or administration. "The
      helm of the Commonwealth." --Melmoth.
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   3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman;
      hence, a guide; a director.
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            The helms o' the State, who care for you like
            fathers.                              --Shak.
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   4. [Cf. Helve.] A helve. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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   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.
      [1913 Webster]

	

	helm
    n 1: steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by
         which a vessel is steered
    2: a position of leadership; "the President is at the helm of
       the Ship of State"
    v 1: be at or take the helm of; "helm the ship"

	

	56 Moby Thesaurus words for "helm":
   automatic pilot, bench, chair, chairmanship, chart a course, claws,
   clutches, command, cond, conn, control, coxswain, curule chair,
   dais, direct, directorship, domination, dominion, grasp, grip,
   gripe, guide, gyroscopic pilot, hand, handle, hands, have the conn,
   hold, iron hand, jurisdiction, leadership, lever pilot, manage,
   mastership, mastery, navigate, operate, pilot, power, presidency,
   reins, reins of government, rudder, rule, run, saddle, seat,
   seat of power, seat of state, shape a course, steer, talons,
   tiller, weather helm, wheel, woolsack