helmet
pronunciation
How to pronounce helmet in British English:
UK [ˈhelmɪt]
How to pronounce helmet in American English:
US [ˈhelmɪt]
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- Noun:
- armor plate that protects the head
- a protective headgear made of hard material to resist blows
Word Origin
- helmet
- helmet: [15] A helmet is literally a ‘little protective hat’. The word was borrowed from Old French helmet, a diminutive form of helme ‘helmet’. This in turn was acquired by Old French from Germanic *khelmaz (source of English helm [OE]), which goes back ultimately to Indo-European *kel- ‘hide, cover’ (source of a wide range of English words, including apocalypse, cell, cellar, conceal, hall, hell, and occult).=> hell, helm
- helmet (n.)
- mid-15c., perhaps a diminutive of Old English helm "protection, covering; crown, helmet" (see helm (n.2)). But Barnhart says from Middle French helmet (Modern French heaume), diminutive of helme "helmet," from the same Germanic source as helm (n.2). "Middle English Dictionary" points to both without making a choice. "Old English helm never became an active term in the standard vocabulary of English." [Barnhart]
Example
- 1. Star wars themed ceramic mug shaped like stormtrooper helmet .
- 2. The wider-rimmed first world war version replaced the police constable-style helmet .
- 3. Before the descent every person is supplied with a protective suit , helmet and shoes .
- 4. She gave each of us a helmet .
- 5. Racers are allowed to wear only helmet , shoes and underpants .