helm

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Nautical The steering gear of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.
2. n. A position of leadership or control: at the helm of the government.
3. v. To take the helm of; steer or direct.
4. n. A helmet.
5. v. To cover or furnish with a helmet.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A handle; a helve.
2. n. Nautical, the handle, lever, or instrument by which the rudder is shifted; the tiller, or in large ships the wheel: sometimes extended to include the whole steering-apparatus.
3. n. Hence The place or post of direction or management: as, to take the helm of affairs.
4. To steer; guide; direct.
5. n. A defensive cover for the head; a helmet. See helmet, now the more common form.
6. n. A dark heavy cloud that rests on the brow of a mountain before a storm, while the rest of the sky is clear. Also helm-cloud and helmet.
7. n. A hovel; an outhouse.
8. To furnish with a helmet; cover with a helmet, as a knight.
9. n. Same as halm.
10. n. Said of a vessel the tendency of which is to keep coming up into the wind, and which requires that the tiller be kept more or less to windward to counteract it.

Wiktionary

1. n. The steering apparatus of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.
2. n. The member of the crew in charge of steering the boat.
3. n. A position of leadership or control.
4. n. A helmet.
5. v. To be a helmsman or a member of the helm; to be in charge of steering the boat.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. See haulm, straw.
2. n. The apparatus by which a ship is steered, comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used of the tiller or wheel alone.
3. n. The place or office of direction or administration.
4. n. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman; hence, a guide; a director.
5. n. A helve.
6. v. To steer; to guide; to direct.
7. n. A helmet.
8. n. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain.
9. v. To cover or furnish with a helm or helmet.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. be at or take the helm of
2. n. steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered
3. n. a position of leadership