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Helm vs Rudder - What's the difference?

helm | rudder |

In context|nautical|lang=en terms the difference between helm and rudder

is that helm is (nautical) the steering apparatus of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel while rudder is (nautical) an underwater vane used to steer a vessel the rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).

As nouns the difference between helm and rudder

is that helm is (nautical) the steering apparatus of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel or helm can be (archaic) a helmet while rudder is (nautical) an underwater vane used to steer a vessel the rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).

As a verb helm

is to be a helmsman or a member of the helm; to be in charge of steering the boat.

helm

English

(wikipedia helm)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (nautical) The steering apparatus of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.
  • (maritime) The member of the crew in charge of steering the boat.
  • (figurative) A position of leadership or control.
    • the helm of the Commonwealth
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=January 11 , author=Jonathan Stevenson , title=West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=Grant will be desperate to finish the job of getting West Ham to their first Wembley cup final in 30 years when they meet Birmingham in the second leg at St Andrews on 26 January; though arguably of more pressing concern is whether he will still be at the helm for Saturday's Premier League encounter with Arsenal.}}
  • One at the place of direction or control; a guide; a director.
  • * Shakespeare
    • the helms o' the State, who care for you like fathers
  • (heraldry) A helmet.
  • (obsolete, UK, dialect) A helve.
    • Derived terms
    * at the helm * take the helm

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be a helmsman or a member of the helm; to be in charge of steering the boat.
  • * Tennyson
    • A wild wave overbears the bark, / And him that helms it.
  • (by extension) To lead (a project, etc.).
  • * 2014 , Malcolm Jack, " John Grant with the Royal Northern Sinfonia review – positively spine-tingling", The Guardian , 1 December 2014:
    • “I wanted to change the world, but I could not even change my underwear,” sings John Grant at the piano, in a luxuriant baritone croon as thick and healthy as his beard. It’s hard to reconcile the guy who once struggled to so much as put on clean pants back in the bad old days – well-storied, not least through his own songs – with the one warmly and gracefully helming this complex, prestigious production – the penultimate date on a tour of packed concert halls, backed by an orchestra.
  • * Shakespeare
    • the business he hath helmed

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl), from (etyl) (m), (etyl) . Compare (etyl) (m), (etyl) (m), (etyl) (m), (etyl) (m), (etyl) (m).

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (archaic) A helmet.
  • :* Luken sweord longe, leiden o þe helmen . — Layamon's Brut, 1275
  • :: (They drew their swords and put on their helmen .)
  • :* Þe helm of hel and þe swerd of þe Spirit. — An Apology for Lollard Doctrines, Attributed to Wycliffe, 1475
  • :* The kynge Ban be-gan to laugh vndir his helme . — Merlin, 1500
  • :* {{quote-book
    • , year=1927 , year_published=2008 , edition=HTML , editor= , author=Edgar Rice Burrows , title=The Outlaw of Torn , chapter= citation , genre= , publisher=The Gutenberg Project , isbn= , page= , passage="A fearful apparition," murmured Norman of Torn. "No wonder he keeps his helm closed." }}
  • A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain.
    • (Halliwell)
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Etymology 3

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (a straw)
    • English terms with multiple etymologies ----

    rudder

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia rudder) (en noun)
  • (nautical) An underwater vane used to steer a vessel. The rudder is controlled by means of a wheel, tiller or other apparatus (modern vessels can be controlled even with a joystick or an autopilot).
  • (aeronautics) A control surface on the vertical stabilizer of a fixed-wing aircraft or an autogyro. On some craft, the entire vertical stabilizer comprises the rudder. The rudder is controlled by foot-operated control pedals.
  • A riddle or sieve.
  • (figurative) That which resembles a rudder as a guide or governor; that which guides or governs the course.
  • * Hudibras
    • For rhyme the rudder is of verses.

    Derived terms

    * balance rudder * bow rudder * drop rudder * rudder blade * rudder chain * rudder coat * rudderfish * rudderhead * rudder pendants

    See also

    * tiller