'To feel the helm' definitions:

Definition of 'To feel the helm'

From: GCIDE
  • 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]

Definition of 'To feel the helm'

From: GCIDE
  • Feel \Feel\ (f[=e]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Felt (f[e^]lt); p. pr. & vb. n. Feeling.] [AS. f[=e]lan; akin to OS. gif[=o]lian to perceive, D. voelen to feel, OHG. fuolen, G. f["u]hlen, Icel. f[=a]lma to grope, and prob. to AS. folm palm of the hand, L. palma. Cf. Fumble, Palm.]
  • 1. To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing) with the body or limbs. [1913 Webster]
  • Who feel Those rods of scorpions and those whips of steel. --Creecn. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as, feel this piece of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out. [1913 Webster]
  • Come near, . . . that I may feel thee, my son. --Gen. xxvii. 21. [1913 Webster]
  • He hath this to feel my affection to your honor. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To perceive by the mind; to have a sense of; to experience; to be affected by; to be sensible of, or sensitive to; as, to feel pleasure; to feel pain. [1913 Webster]
  • Teach me to feel another's woe. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing. --Eccl. viii. 5. [1913 Webster]
  • He best can paint them who shall feel them most. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • Mankind have felt their strength and made it felt. --Byron. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To take internal cognizance of; to be conscious of; to have an inward persuasion of. [1913 Webster]
  • For then, and not till then, he felt himself. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To perceive; to observe. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
  • To feel the helm (Naut.), to obey it. [1913 Webster]