To feel the helm

Feel Feel (f[=e]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Felt} (f[e^]lt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Feeling}.] [AS. f[=e]lan; akin to OS. gif[=o]lian to perceive, D. voelen to feel, OHG. fuolen, G. f["u]hlen, Icel. f[=a]lma to grope, and prob. to AS. folm palm of the hand, L. palma. Cf. {Fumble}, {Palm}.] 1. To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing) with the body or limbs. [1913 Webster]

Who feel Those rods of scorpions and those whips of steel. --Creecn. [1913 Webster]

2. To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as, feel this piece of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out. [1913 Webster]

Come near, . . . that I may feel thee, my son. --Gen. xxvii. 21. [1913 Webster]

He hath this to feel my affection to your honor. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. To perceive by the mind; to have a sense of; to experience; to be affected by; to be sensible of, or sensitive to; as, to feel pleasure; to feel pain. [1913 Webster]

Teach me to feel another's woe. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing. --Eccl. viii. 5. [1913 Webster]

He best can paint them who shall feel them most. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

Mankind have felt their strength and made it felt. --Byron. [1913 Webster]

4. To take internal cognizance of; to be conscious of; to have an inward persuasion of. [1913 Webster]

For then, and not till then, he felt himself. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. To perceive; to observe. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

{To feel the helm} (Naut.), to obey it. [1913 Webster]