WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Hel"met
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [OF. helmet, a dim of helme, F. heaume; of Teutonic origin; cf. G. helm, akin to AS. & OS. helm, D. helm, helmet, Icel. hjalmr, Sw. hjelm, Dan. hielm, Goth. hilms; and prob. from the root of AS. helan to hide, to hele; cf. also Lith. szalmas, Russ. sh
Definition : 1. (Armor)

Defn: A defensive covering for the head. See Casque, Headpiece, Morion, Sallet, and Illust. of Beaver.

2. (Her.)

Defn: The representation of a helmet over shields or coats of arms, denoting gradations of rank by modifications of form.

3. 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.

4. That which resembles a helmet in form, position, etc.; as: (a) (Chem.) The upper part of a retort. Boyle. (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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913