Helm

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Helm

1. The only named wind in the British Isles. It blows westward from the Pennine fells over Cumbria and is often accompanied by a line of clouds on top of the hills called the Helm Bar.

   Synonym: Helm Wind

Two main origins:

• English topographic surname for someone who lived by or worked at a temporary shelter for animals, from Middle English helm (“helmet; protection”).
• Borrowed from German Helm (“helmet”), metonymic occupational surname for a maker of helmets.

Helm (countable and uncountable, plural Helms)

1. (countable) A surname.
2. (uncountable) A placename, from the surname:
   1. An unincorporated community in Fresno County, California, United States.
   2. An unincorporated community in Russell County, Kentucky, United States.
   3. An unincorporated community in Pulaski County, Missouri, United States.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Helm is the 3087^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 11649 individuals. Helm is most common among White (86.39%) individuals.

• Hanks, Patrick, editor (2003), “Helm”, in Dictionary of American Family Names, volume 2, New York City: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 160.

From Middle High German helm, from Old High German helm, from Proto-West Germanic *helm, from Proto-Germanic *helmaz. Compare Low German Helm, Dutch helm, English helm, Danish hjelm.

• IPA^(key): /hɛlm/

• Audio

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Helm m (strong, genitive Helmes or Helms, plural Helme)

1. helmet
2. (architecture) helm roof
3. (heraldry) helmet, as shown above a coat of arms

• (heraldry): Oberwappen

• helmartig, helmförmig, behelmt

• “Helm” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “Helm” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.
• “Helm” in Duden online

Backformed (perhaps under German influence) from the plural of older Hellem, from Middle High German helm, from Old High German helm, from Proto-West Germanic *helm, from Proto-Germanic *helmaz.

Cognate with German Helm, Dutch helm, English helm, Icelandic hjálmur.

• IPA^(key): /hælm/

Helm m (plural Helmer)

1. helmet