1. 1.a.

   Old English–

   The handle or tiller, in large ships the wheel, by which the rudder is managed; sometimes extended so as to include the whole steering gear.

   1. OE

      Clavus, helma.

      Corpus Gl. 4
   2. OE
      in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker, Anglo-Saxon & Old English Vocabulary (1884) vol. I. 182/6.
   3. c1330

      Roþeres, helmes, right for to stande.

      R. Mannyng, Chronicle Wace (Rolls) 12060
   4. c1440

      Helme, or þe rothere of a schyp.

      Promptorium Parvulorum 235/1
   5. ?1518

      Some stered at the helme behynde Some whysteled after the wynde.

      Cocke Lorelles Bote sig. C.jv
   6. 1634

      Many times the ships will feele no helme.

      T. Herbert, Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile 5
   7. 1656

      Helme of the Rudder of a ship, is a handle of wood, put on the Rudder for a man to govern the same, and direct the ship.

      T. Blount, Glossographia
   8. 1669

      The Helmne is hard a weather, mind at Helmne what is said to you carefully.

      S. Sturmy, Mariners Magazine i. 17
   9. 1757

      In gallant trim the gilded Vessel goes; Youth on the prow, and Pleasure at the helm.

      T. Gray, Ode II ii. ii, in Odes 17
   10. a1796

       When Guilford good our Pilot stood, An' did our hellim thraw, man.

       R. Burns (song)
   11. 1826

       There was no one on deck but the man at the helm and himself.

       H. N. Coleridge, Six Months in West Indies 76

   nautical
2. 1.b.

   1892–

   Use or turning of the helm, space through which the helm is turned.

   1. 1892

      Many of the witnesses disagree as to the amount of helm which was given to the ship.

      Pall Mall Gazette 23 February 7/1
   2. 1894

      Very little helm, three or four spokes either to port or starboard, would have done it.

      Times 17 March 5/4

   nautical
3. 1.c.

   1769–

   Phrases. down with the helm, down helm, the order to place the helm so as to bring the rudder to windward. up with the helm, up helm, the order to place the helm so as to bring the rudder to leeward. See also alee adv., amidships adv. & adj., bear v.1 IV.ii.31b, ease v. 6b, to feel her (also the) helm at feel v. Phrases P.4, over n.1, port n.6, starboard n., adj., & adv., weather n.

   1. 1769

      Put the helm amidships, i.e. in the middle.

      W. Falconer, Universal Dictionary of Marine at Amidships
   2. 1833

      ‘Down with the helm, and let her come round,’ said I.

      M. Scott, Tom Cringle's Log vol. II. iv. 159
   3. 1840

      So I up helm for my sister's house in Brighton.

      N. P. Willis in S. Longfellow, Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1891) vol. I. xxi. 371
   4. 1859

      See if he does not up helm, and make the best run of it he can.

      T. P. Thompson, Audi Alteram Partem vol. II. xc. 66
   5. 1874

      If caught in a hard sudden squall, down helm at once... A tendency to carry lee helm should be counteracted at once.

      F. G. D. Bedford, Sailor's Pocket Book vi. 171
   6. 1880

      Helm's-a-lee, the call of the helmsman when his helm is hard down in tacking.

      Boy's Own Book (new edition) 316