What does heaume mean?
Heaume is an uncommon historical noun for a medieval helmet, especially a great helm, the large enclosed type associated with heavily armored fighters. In modern English, it occurs mainly in accounts of medieval warfare, historical fiction, literature, and museum or antiquarian descriptions. The word has an archaic and chivalric flavour, so "helmet" is normally preferable in everyday use. Heaume can refer to a great helm specifically or more broadly to a medieval helmet, sometimes one fitted with a visor or other facial protection. Its value is that it identifies a particular historical form of head armour rather than applying the broad modern label "helmet." A narrative might describe a knight raising his visor beneath his heaume, while an account of a historical collection might mention a dented heaume displayed beside other pieces of armour. The unusual spelling may initially be misleading, but the word vividly evokes medieval combatants and the study of arms and armour.
nounA medieval helmet, especially a great helm. The word is chiefly historical and now occurs mainly in literary writing and the study of medieval arms and armour.
- A medieval helmet, especially a great helm.
"The knight raised the visor of his heaume and looked toward the distant camp."
"The knight's face was almost completely concealed behind the visor of his heaume."
"The museum display included a battered steel heaume alongside a chain mail coif."
The standard plural is "heaumes."
"The collection contains two iron heaumes from the late medieval period."
Before the visor became a familiar faceplate, a knight's heaume could guard the head and open a narrow window onto the world.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does heaume come from?
Heaume entered Middle English from Old French heaume, a word of Germanic origin meaning a helmet. The French word reflects a Frankish form ultimately derived from the same Proto-Germanic word that produced Old English helm, Old Norse hialmr, and German Helm. In English, heaume became especially associated with medieval helmets and now survives chiefly in historical and literary usage.
Related word forms
How heaume is actually used
Chiefly historical, archaic, and literary. In ordinary contemporary writing, "helmet" is usually more natural.
Easily confused with heaume
A helm is the broader noun for a helmet and can also mean a ship's steering device, whereas a heaume specifically denotes a medieval helmet.