helmsman

noun
helms·​man | \ ˈhelmz-mən How to pronounce helmsman (audio) \

Definition of helmsman

: the person at the helm : steersman

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Other Words from helmsman

helmsmanship \ ˈhelmz-​mən-​ˌship How to pronounce helmsmanship (audio) \ noun

Examples of helmsman in a Sentence

had a complaint and demanded to talk to the helmsman of this vast construction project, not some underling

Recent Examples on the Web

The great helmsman recounted the youthful dissenters’ arrest and repeated the axe phraseology. David B. Moore, Quartz Africa, "The many failures and betrayals of Robert Mugabe to his people," 7 Sep. 2019 In the 1920s, his penchant for calculus combined with patient observations of helmsmen steering US battleships allowed Minorisky to figure out the mathematical theory behind proportional-integral-derivative control, or PID. Megan Molteni, WIRED, "Scientists Can Finally Build Feedback Circuits in Cells," 26 July 2019 Takei felt blessed to land the role of the master helmsman. Karen Heller, Washington Post, "The extraordinary trek of George Takei," 16 July 2019 Ron Berens, the lead helmsman onboard and at the wheel on January 23, 1968 when North Korean MiG fighter jets and patrol opened fire on the American spy ship, leading to the first capture of a U.S. Navy ship since the War of 1812. Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News, "USS Pueblo spy ship crew tell Trump to bring vessel home from North Korea," 22 Sep. 2018 The team has named Dean Barker—a Cup vet from New Zealand now living in the U.S.—as a helmsman and earlier this year finished second in the Congressional Cup, a prestigious test event. Aaron Kuriloff, WSJ, "New York Yacht Club Has Sights Set on the America’s Cup," 15 Aug. 2018 Burling had the higher profile, becoming the youngest helmsman in the Cup’s 167-year history to win it. Christopher Clarey, New York Times, "At the Volvo Ocean Race, Teammates Turn Into Rivals, for Now," 17 May 2018 Russian women, for example, cannot be ship’s helmsmen (in order, apparently, to protect their reproductive health). The Economist, "Many countries suffer from shrinking working-age populations," 5 May 2018 Mr Xi, after all, is now being called the Communist Party’s core, helmsman of the country and the people’s leader—all titles associated with Mao Zedong. The Economist, "China’s President Xi Jinping designates some sidekicks," 22 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'helmsman.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of helmsman

1590, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for helmsman

helmsman

noun

English Language Learners Definition of helmsman

: a person (especially a man) who steers a ship or boat