v. [UN-2 4, 7. Cf. Du. onthelmen.]
1. refl. and trans. To divest (oneself or another) of a helmet.
refl. c. 1400. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), IV. xxxviii. 66. This knyght … vnhelmed hym, and come before the kynge.
c. 1468. in Archaeol. (1846), XXXI. 338. Then the Duke unhelmed hyme, and … chargid pece in paine of deth.
1587. Holinshed, Chron. (ed. 2), III. 825/1. When the iusts were doone, the king & all the other vnhelmed them, & rode about the tilt.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 100. Striving to unhelme himself…, he taking his brothers hand, would needs kisse it.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., III. i. 124. The laws of the tournament permitted any one of the combatants to unhelm himself at pleasure.
1866. G. A. Lawrence, Sans Merci, III. xii. 191. The five kings, who led the Paynim host, unhelmed themselves to quench their thirst.
trans. 1470–85. Malory, Arthur, X. lxxxvi. 565. Thenne they vnarmed them. And whanne syre Launcelot was vnhelmed, sir Tristram and syr Palomydes knewe hym.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clxviii. 468. Eche of them strake other on their helmes…. With yt ataynt the lorde of saynt Pye was vnhelmed.
1587. Hughes, Misfort. Arthur, V. i. Vnhealme his luckelesse head, set bare his face.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, xii. The marshals … unhelmed him by cutting the laces of his casque.
1848. Lytton, Harold, XII. ix. They unhelmed another corpse.
2. intr. To take off one’s own helmet.
1865. J. M. Ludlow, Epics Mid. Ages, II. 228. Nor will she let William in till he has unhelmed.
