Helm amidships

Helm Helm, n. [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G. helm, Icel. hj[=a]lm, and perh. to E. helve.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Naut.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered, comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used of the tiller or wheel alone. [1913 Webster]

2. The place or office of direction or administration. ``The helm of the Commonwealth.'' --Melmoth. [1913 Webster]

3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman; hence, a guide; a director. [1913 Webster]

The helms o' the State, who care for you like fathers. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

4. [Cf. {Helve}.] A helve. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]

{Helm amidships}, when the tiller, rudder, and keel are in the same plane.

{Helm aport}, when the tiller is borne over to the port side of the ship.

{Helm astarboard}, when the tiller is borne to the starboard side.

{Helm alee}, {Helm aweather}, when the tiller is borne over to the lee or to the weather side.

{Helm hard alee}, {Helm hard aport}, {Helm hard astarboard}, etc., when the tiller is borne over to the extreme limit.

{Helm port}, the round hole in a vessel's counter through which the rudderstock passes.

{Helm down}, helm alee.

{Helm up}, helm aweather.

{To ease the helm}, to let the tiller come more amidships, so as to lessen the strain on the rudder.

{To feel the helm}, to obey it.

{To right the helm}, to put it amidships.

{To shift the helm}, to bear the tiller over to the corresponding position on the opposite side of the vessel. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. [1913 Webster]