Where does “helm” come from?

helm (Welsh) comes from English helm, from German helm, from Middle High German helm, from Old High German helm, from Proto-West Germanic helm, from Proto-Germanic helmaz, from Proto-Germanic halmaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mos — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

helm (Welsh): helmet

Definitions

  1. helmet

Ancestry of “helm”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhelmThe steering apparatus of a ship, especially the...
2Germanhelmhelmet
3Middle High Germanhelmstalk
4Old High Germanhelmhelmet
5Proto-West Germanichelmhelmet
6Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
7Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂-
helm — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer