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Webster 1913 Edition

Pilot

Pi′lot

,
Noun.
[F.
pilote
, prob. from D.
peillood
plummet, sounding lead;
peilen
,
pegelen
, to sound, measure (fr. D. & G.
peil
,
pegel
, a sort of measure, water mark) +
lood
lead, akin to E.
lead
. The pilot, then, is the
lead
man, i. e., he who throws the lead. See
Pail
, and
Lead
a metal.]
1.
(Naut.)
One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman.
Dryden.
2.
Specifically, a person duly qualified, and licensed by authority, to conduct vessels into and out of a port, or in certain waters, for a fixed rate of fees.
3.
Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course.
4.
An instrument for detecting the compass error.
5.
The cowcatcher of a locomotive.
[U.S.]
Pilot balloon
,
a small balloon sent up in advance of a large one, to show the direction and force of the wind.
–
Pilot bird
.
(Zool.)
(a)
A bird found near the Caribbee Islands; – so called because its presence indicates to mariners their approach to these islands.
Crabb.
(b)
The black-bellied plover.
[Local, U.S.]
–
Pilot boat
,
a strong, fast-sailing boat used to carry and receive pilots as they board and leave vessels.
–
Pilot bread
,
ship biscuit.
–
Pilot cloth
,
a coarse, stout kind of cloth for overcoats.
–
Pilot engine
,
a locomotive going in advance of a train to make sure that the way is clear.
–
Pilot fish
.
(Zool)
(a)
A pelagic carangoid fish (
Naucrates ductor
); – so named because it is often seen in company with a shark, swimming near a ship, on account of which sailors imagine that it acts as a pilot to the shark
.
(b)
The rudder fish (
Seriola zonata
).
–
Pilot jack
,
a flag or signal hoisted by a vessel for a pilot.
–
Pilot jacket
,
a pea jacket.
–
Pilot nut
(Bridge Building)
,
a conical nut applied temporarily to the threaded end of a pin, to protect the thread and guide the pin when it is driven into a hole.
Waddell.
–
Pilot snake
(Zool.)
(a)
A large North American snake (
Coluber obsoleus
). It is lustrous black, with white edges to some of the scales. Called also
mountain black snake
.
(b)
The pine snake.
–
Pilot whale
.
(Zool.)
Same as
Blackfish
, 1.

Pi′lot

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Piloted
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Piloting
.]
[Cf. F.
piloter
.]
1.
To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous.
2.
Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties.
“The art of piloting a state.”
Berkeley.

Webster 1828 Edition

Pilot

PI'LOT

,
Noun.
1.
One who steers a ship in a dangerous navigation, or rather one whose office or occupation is to steer ships, particularly along a coast, or into and out of a harbor, bay or river, where navigation is dangerous.
2.
A guide; a director of the course of another person. [In colloquial use.]

PI'LOT

,
Verb.
T.
To direct the course of a ship in any place where navigation is dangerous.

Definition 2024

Pilot

Pilot

See also: pilot

German

Noun

Pilot m ‎(genitive Piloten, plural Piloten, feminine Pilotin)

  1. pilot

Declension

pilot

pilot

See also: Pilot

English

Noun

pilot ‎(plural pilots)

  1. A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Dryden to this entry?)
  2. A person who knows well the depths and currents of a harbor or coastal area, who is hired by a vessel to help navigate the harbor or coast.
  3. An instrument for detecting the compass error.
  4. (Australia, road transport, informal) A pilot vehicle.
  5. (Australia, road transport) A person authorised to drive such a vehicle during an escort.
  6. A guide or escort through an unknown or dangerous area.
    • 1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, E. L. Cary and A. Hart, page 43:
      So we mounted our horses, and put out for that town, under the direction of two friendly Creeks we had taken for pilots.
  7. Something serving as a test or trial.
    We would like to run a pilot in your facility before rolling out the program citywide.
    The pilot plant showed the need for major process changes.
    1. (mining) The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.
  8. A person who is in charge of the controls of an aircraft.
  9. A sample episode of a proposed TV series
  10. (rail transport) A cowcatcher.
  11. A pilot light.
  12. One who flies a kite.
    • 2003, John P. Glaser, A Father's Collage, page 31:
      Julia has become quite a good kite pilot. She has learned how to repeatedly buzz her father's head, coming within two feet, and not hitting him.
  13. A short plug, sometimes made interchangeable, at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool.

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

pilot ‎(not comparable)

  1. Made or used as a test or demonstration of capability. (pilot run, pilot plant)
  2. Used to control or activate another device. (pilot light)
  3. A vehicle to warn other road users of the presence of an oversize vehicle/combination. (pilot vehicle)
  4. Used to indicate operation ("pilot lamp")

Translations

Verb

pilot ‎(third-person singular simple present pilots, present participle piloting, simple past and past participle piloted)

  1. (transitive) To control (an aircraft or watercraft).
  2. (transitive) To guide (a vessel) through coastal waters.
  3. (transitive) To test or have a preliminary trial of (an idea, a new product, etc.)

Translations

Catalan

Adjective

pilot m ‎(feminine pilota, masculine plural pilots, feminine plural pilotes)

  1. pilot

Noun

pilot m ‎(plural pilots)

  1. pilot
  2. driver
  3. light, warning light

Czech

Noun

pilot m

  1. pilot (controller of aircraft)

Declension

Derived terms

  • pilotní
  • pilotovat

Danish

Noun

pilot c (singular definite piloten, plural indefinite piloter)

  1. pilot

Declension

References

Latvian

Noun

pilot

  1. vocative singular form of pilots

Verb

pilot

  1. present conjunctive form of pilēt
  2. (with the particle lai) imperative conjunctive form of pilēt

Participle

pilot (invariable)

  1. adverbial present active participle of pilēt (invariable form)

Middle French

Noun

pilot m (plural pilots)

  1. stake (pole designed to be pushed into the ground)

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From French pilote

Noun

pilot m ‎(definite singular piloten, indefinite plural piloter, definite plural pilotene)

  1. pilot (controller of an aircraft)

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From French pilote

Noun

pilot m ‎(definite singular piloten, indefinite plural pilotar, definite plural pilotane)

  1. pilot (controller of an aircraft)

Derived terms

References

Polish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈpʲi.lɔt/

Noun

pilot m pers

  1. pilot (controller of aircraft)

Declension

Noun

pilot m inan

  1. remote control

Declension

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowing from French pilote

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /piˈlot/

Noun

pilot m ‎(plural piloți)

  1. pilot

Declension

Related terms

Pronunciation

  • Rhymes: -oːt

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