Etymology Explorer › Proto-West Germanic

Where does “helm” come from?

helm (Proto-West Germanic) comes 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 (Proto-West Germanic): helmet

Definitions

  1. helmet

Ancestry of “helm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
2Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

Words derived from “helm”

  • Wilhelm
  • helm
  • Anselm
  • helmsman
  • Wilhelmine
  • holm
  • haulm
  • Anselmian
  • helmer
  • Anselmic
  • helmless
  • Wilhelmian
  • helmswoman
  • Wilhelminism
  • helmsmanship
  • haum
  • autohelm
  • unhelm
  • helmsperson
  • dishelm
  • helmage
  • haulmy
  • uphelm
  • Hellebarde
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →