whelm 
(wĕlm, hwĕlm)
(wĕlm, hwĕlm)tr.v. whelmed, whelm·ing, whelms
Archaic
Archaic
1. To cover with water; submerge.
2. To overwhelm.
[Middle English whelmen, to overturn, probably alteration (influenced by helmen, to cover) of whelven, from Old English -hwelfan (as in āhwelfan, to cover over).]