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helmet

/ˈhɛlmɪt/ noun

In Latin: cassis, galea Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about helmet at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Armor plate that protects the head.
  2. A protective headgear made of hard material to resist blows.

Origin

From Middle English helmet, helmett, a borrowing from Old French helmet, heaumet, a diminutive of helme (Modern French heaume), equivalent to helm + -et. The Old French is itself of Germanic origin (whence Old English helm). Used in English since the 15th century, it has largely displaced helm as the general word.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)