Helmet

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈhelmɪt/

Alternative forms

• helmette obsolete

Origin

From healmet, helmet, an Old French diminutive of helme (Modern French heaume). The Old French is itself from the helm. English since the 15th century, gradually displacing Old English helm as the generic word.

Full definition of helmet

Noun

1. A protective head covering.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 2, Now that she had rested and had fed from the luncheon tray Mrs. Broome had just removed, she had reverted to her normal gaiety.  She looked cool in a grey tailored cotton dress with a terracotta scarf and shoes and her hair a black silk helmet.
2. That which resembles a helmet in form, position, etc.
1. The upper part of a chemist's retort.
2. The hood-shaped upper sepal or petal of some flowers, as of the monkshood or the snapdragon.
3. A naked shield or protuberance on the top or fore part of the head of a bird.
4. (heraldry) The feature above a shield on a coat of arms.

Synonyms

• brain bucket, hard hat

Derived terms

• bicycle helmet
• construction helmet
• crash helmet

Related terms

• helm