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.

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.

*helmô m

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

   Synonym: *rōþrą

• *skalmō
• *skalmiz

• 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