Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/helmô

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

Usually thought to be from Proto-Indo-European *ḱél-mō, earlier *ḱél-mn̥, from the root *ḱel- (“to cover”); equivalent to *helaną +‎ *-mô. Cognate with Sanskrit शर्मन् (śárman, “shelter, protection”). However, the semantic connection is weak.

An alternative theory by Kroonen links *halmaz and *helmaz (“haulm, straw, stalk, cane”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱélh₂-m(on)-, assuming the original meaning of *helmô was closer to “cane” and referred just to the shaft of a handle implement.

Note the presence of *(s)- in the related synonyms.

Noun

*helmô m

1. handle, especially for steering a boat: helm, tiller
2. rudder

   Synonym: *rōþrą

Inflection

masculine an-stemDeclension of *helmô (masculine an-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*helmô	*helmaniz
vocative	*helmô	*helmaniz
accusative	*helmanų	*helmanunz
genitive	*hilminiz	*helmanǫ̂
dative	*hilmini	*helmammaz
instrumental	*hilminē	*helmammiz

Related terms

• *skalmō
• *skalmiz

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *helmō
  • Old English: helma
    • Middle English: halm
      • English: helm
  • Old Saxon: *helma
    • Middle Low German: helm; holm (-o- from -a-? or from a zero-grade?)
      • → German: Holm
  • Old Dutch: *helma
    • Middle Dutch: helm
      • Dutch: helm
  • Old High German: halme
    • Middle High German: halme, halm, helm
      • German: Helm (dialectal)
• ⇒ Old Norse: hjalmvǫlr, hjalmurvǫlr, hjalmarvǫlr, hjalmunvǫlr