Etymology : Middle French, diminutive of helme helmet, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English helm helmet, Old High German helan to conceal; more at HELL
Pronunciation : 'hel-m&t
Function : noun
Date : 15th century
1. protective head covering (worn by cyclists, soldiers, etc.). helmet\hel"met\ , n. [of. helmet, a dim of helme, f. heaume; of teutonic origin; cf. g. helm, akin to as. & os. helm, d. helm, helmet, icel. hjālmr, sw. hjelm, dan. hielm, goth. hilms; and prob. from the root of as. helan to hide, to hele; cf. also lith. szalmas, russ. shleme, skr. çarman protection.
2. cf. hele, hell, helm a helmet.].
3. (armor) a defensive covering for the head. see:
casque, headpiece, morion, sallet, and illust. of beaver.
4. (her.) the representation of a helmet over shields or coats of arms, denoting gradations of rank by modifications of form.
5. a helmet-shaped hat, made of cork, felt, metal, or other suitable material, worn as part of the uniform of soldiers, firemen, etc., also worn in hot countries as a protection from the heat of the sun.
6. that which resembles a helmet in form, position, etc.; as: (a) (chem.) the upper part of a retort. (b) (bot.) the hood-formed upper sepal or petal of some flowers, as of the monkshood or the snapdragon. (c) (zo?l.) a naked shield or protuberance on the top or fore part of the head of a bird.helmet beetle (zo?l.), a leaf-eating beetle of the family chrysomelid?, having a short, broad, and flattened body. many species are known.helmet shell (zo?l.), one of many species of tropical marine univalve shells belonging to cassis and allied genera. many of them are large and handsome; several are used for cutting as cameos, and hence are called cameo shells see:
king conch.helmet shrike (zo?l.), an african wood shrike of the genus prionodon, having a large crest.helmet n.
7. armor plate that protects the head.
8. a protective headgear made of hard material to resist blowshelmet (heb. kob'a), a cap for the defence of the head (1 sam. 17:5, 38). in the new testament the greek equivalent is used (eph. 6:17; 1 thess. 5:8). (see:
arms.).
9. A defensive covering for the head.
10. See Casque, Headpiece, Morion, Sallet, and Illust. of Beaver.
11. The representation of a helmet over shields or coats of arms, denoting gradations of rank by modifications of form.
12. A helmet-shaped hat, made of cork, felt, metal, or other suitable material, worn as part of the uniform of soldiers, firemen, etc., also worn in hot countries as a protection from the heat of the sun.
13. That which resembles a helmet in form, position, etc.
14. The upper part of a retort.
15. The hood-formed upper sepal or petal of some flowers, as of the monkshood or the snapdragon.
16. A naked shield or protuberance on the top or fore part of the head of a bird. a protective headgear made of hard material to resist blows armor plate that protects the head.
17. A helmet is a hat made of a strong material which you wear to protect your head. see also:
crash helmet.