Whelm (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whelmed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Whelming.] [OE. whelmen to turn over, akin to OE. whelven, AS. whelfan, hwylfan, in whylfan, whelfan, to overwhelm, cover over; akin to OS. bihwelbian, D. welven to arch, G. wolben, OHG. welben, Icel. hvelfa to overturn; cf. Gr. bosom, a hollow, a gulf.]
1.
To cover with water or other fluid; to cover by immersion in something that envelops on all sides; to overwhelm; to ingulf.
She is my prize, or ocean whelm them all!
Shak.
The whelming billow and the faithless oar.
Gay.
2.
Fig.: To cover completely, as if with water; to immerse; to overcome; as, to whelm one in sorrows.
"The
whelming weight of crime."
J. H. Newman.
3.
To throw (something) over a thing so as to cover it.
[Obs.]
Mortimer.
© Webster 1913.