Where does “helm” come from?

helm (Afrikaans) comes from Dutch helm, from Middle Dutch helm, from Old Dutch helm, from Proto-West Germanic helm, from Proto-Germanic helmaz, from Proto-Germanic halmaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

helm (Afrikaans): helmet

Definitions

  1. helmet

Ancestry of “helm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Dutchhelmhelmet; European beachgrass, Ammophila arenaria
2Middle Dutchhelm
3Old Dutchhelm
4Proto-West Germanichelmhelmet
5Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
6Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mosEvery word from Proto-Germanic halmaz