helmet

Alternative forms

• helmette (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English helmet, helmett, a borrowing from Old French helmet, heaumet, a diminutive of helme (Modern French heaume), equivalent to helm +‎ -et. The Old French is itself of Germanic origin. English since the 15th century, has gradually displaced Old English helm as the general word.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛlmɪt/

Noun

helmet (plural helmets)

1. A protective head covering.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 2, in The China Governess‎:

     Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety.  She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet.

2. That which resembles a helmet in form, position, etc.
   1. The upper part of a chemist's retort.
   2. The hood-shaped upper sepal or petal of some flowers, as of the monkshood or the snapdragon.
   3. A naked shield or protuberance on the top or fore part of the head of a bird.
   4. (heraldry) The feature above a shield on a coat of arms.
   5. The glans penis.

Verb

helmet (third-person singular simple present helmets, present participle helmeting, simple past and past participle helmeted)

1. (transitive) To cover with, or as if with, a helmet.

Anagrams

• Lethem

Noun

helmet

1. Nominative plural form of helmi.
2. necklace made of pearls or beads