Helmet

:For information about the band Helmet, see Helmet (band)

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A helmet (a 15th century loan from Middle French, a diminutive of Frankish helm, from Proto-Germanic *khelmaz, PIE *kelmo- "a cover") is a form of protective clothing worn on the head and usually made of metal or some other hard substance, typically for protection of the head from falling objects or high-speed collisions.

Related Topics:
Middle French - Frankish - Proto-Germanic - PIE - Protective clothing - Head - Metal

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Helmets are common in the military, construction, mining and some sports, including American football, baseball, hockey and rock climbing. Motorcycle helmets and bicycle helmets are compulsory headgear in some jurisdictions; in the United Kingdom only Sikhs are allowed to ride motorcycles without wearing motorcycle helmets.

Related Topics:
Military - Construction - Mining - American football - Baseball - Hockey - Rock climbing - Motorcycle helmet - Bicycle helmet - United Kingdom - Sikh - Motorcycle

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Helmets are among the most ancient forms of protection, and are known to have been worn by ancient Greeks and throughout the Middle Ages; at this time they were primarily military equipment, protecting the head from cutting blows with swords and flying arrows. They were initially constructed from leather, but eventually came to be made entirely from iron, with a variety of functional enhancements. Military use of helmets declined as firearms became widespread, where traditional helmets offered little protection. However, with the increasing use of heavy artillery, the steel helmet made a comeback in the 20th Century as protection for the head from shrapnel.

Related Topics:
Ancient Greeks - Middle Ages - Sword - Arrow - Leather - Iron - Firearms - Artillery - 20th Century - Shrapnel

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Helmets used for different purposes differ greatly in their design. For example, a bicycling helmet would chiefly be required to protect against blunt impact forces, most commonly to the temple and sides of the head. A helmet designed for rock climbing, however, would need to protect against objects (e.g., small rocks and climbing equipment) falling from above, but would have a reduced need for protecting against impacts to the side of the head. Consequently, bicycling and rock climbing helmets have little resemblance to each other. Practical concerns also dictate helmet design. A bicycling helmet would preferably be aerodynamic in shape and probably well ventilated, while a rock climbing helmet would be lightweight and with a minimum of bulk to reduce any detrimental effect on the climber's technique.

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Goggles and face guards are other forms of protective headgear. These are not typically needed while wearing a helmet that protects the eyes or face as well. Hard hats are typically preferred in modern times for construction workers.

Related Topics:
Goggles - Protective headgear - Hard hat

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