pilot

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pi=lot

CIDE DICTIONARY

pilot, n. [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.].

•  One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]
•  Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course.  [1913 Webster]
•  An instrument for detecting the compass error.  [1913 Webster]
•  The cowcatcher of a locomotive.  [1913 Webster]
•  One who flies, or is qualified to fly, an airplane, balloon, or other flying machine.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  A short plug at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool. Pilots are sometimes made interchangeable.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  a filmed or taped episode of a proposed television series, produced as an example of the series. It may be shown only to those television broadcast executives who may decide whether to buy the rights to the series, or aired to test viewer reaction or to interest sponsors. Also called pilot film or pilot tape.  [PJC]

Pilot balloon, a small balloon sent up in advance of a large one, to show the direction and force of the wind. -- Pilot bird. (Zoöl.) (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. (Zoöl) (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 (Zoöl.) (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. (Zoöl.) Same as Blackfish, 1.

pilot, v. t. [Cf. F. piloter.].

•  To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous.  [1913 Webster]
•  Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties.  Berkeley.  [1913 Webster]
•  To fly, or act as pilot of (an aircraft); to operate (an airplane).  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pilot, n. & v.
--n.
1 a person who operates the flying controls of an aircraft.
2 a person qualified to take charge of a ship entering or leaving harbour.
3 (usu. attrib.) an experimental undertaking or test, esp. in advance of a larger one (a pilot project).
4 a guide; a leader.
5 archaic a steersman.
--v.tr. (piloted, piloting)
1 act as a pilot on (a ship) or of (an aircraft).
2 conduct, lead, or initiate as a pilot (piloted the new scheme).

Idiom

pilot balloon a small balloon used to track air currents etc. pilot-bird a rare dark-brown Australian babbler, Pycnoptilus floccosus, with a distinctive loud cry. pilot chute a small parachute used to bring the main one into operation. pilot-cloth thick blue woollen cloth for seamen's coats etc. pilot-fish a small fish, Naucrates ductor, said to act as a pilot leading a shark to food. pilot-house = wheel-house. pilot-jacket = PEA-JACKET. pilot-light
1 a small gas burner kept alight to light another.
2 an electric indicator light or control light. pilot officer Brit. the lowest commissioned rank in the RAF.

Derivative

pilotage n. pilotless adj.

Etymology

F pilote f. med.L pilotus, pedot(t)a f. Gk pedon oar

THESAURUS

pilot

Gyropilot, aegis, aerialist, aeronaut, aeroplaner, aeroplanist, agent, air pilot, airman, airplanist, arm guard, astronaut, auto, automatic pilot, aviator, backstop, barnstorm, barnstormer, be responsible for, bellwether, birdman, boatheader, boatsteerer, buffer, bulwark, bumper, captain, carry on, carry out, carry through, charioteer, chart a course, cicerone, cloud seeder, commercial pilot, cond, conduct, conductor, conn, conner, contraceptive, control, copilot, copyright, courier, cowherd, cox, coxswain, crash helmet, crop-duster, cushion, cut-and-try, dashboard, deal with, dean, direct, docking pilot, dodger, doyen, dragoman, drive, driver, drover, empirical, engineer, escort, experimental, face mask, fender, finger guard, flier, fly, foot guard, functionary, fuse, goatherd, goggles, governor, guard, guardrail, guide, guidepost, guider, hand guard, handle, handler, handrail, hard hat, have the conn, helm, helmet, helmsman, herd, herdsman, heuristic, hit-or-miss, hold the reins, instructor, insulation, interlock, jet jockey, knee guard, knuckle guard, laminated glass, lead, leader, licensed pilot, life preserver, lifeline, lightning conductor, lightning rod, make go, manage, maneuver, manipulate, manipulator, mask, mercury, motor, mudguard, navigate, navigator, nose guard, operant, operate, operative, operator, pad, padding, palladium, patent, peel off, perform on, play, pointer, practice, preventive, probationary, probative, probatory, prophylactic, protective clothing, protective umbrella, proving, provisional, rainmaker, river pilot, route, run, runner, safeguard, safety, safety glass, safety plug, safety rail, safety shoes, safety switch, safety valve, sailing master, screen, seat belt, see, see to, shape a course, shepherd, shield, shin guard, show, solo, steer, steerer, steersman, stunt flier, stunt man, sun helmet, take care of, take the helm, tentative, test, test pilot, testing, tool, tour director, tour guide, trial, trial-and-error, trying, umbrella, verificatory, wheel, wheelman, windscreen, windshield, wingman, work

ROGET THESAURUS

pilot

Direction

VB direct, manage, govern, conduct, order, prescribe, cut out work for, bead, lead, lead the way, show the way, take the lead, lead on, regulate, guide, steer, pilot, tackle, take the helm, be at the helm, have the reins, handle the reins, hold the reins, take the reins, drive, tool, superintend, supervise, overlook, control, keep in order, look after, see to, legislate for, administer, ministrate, matronize, have the care of, have the charge of, be in charge of, have charge of, take the direction, boss, boss one around, pull the strings, pull the wires, rule, have the direction, hold office, hold the portfolio, preside, preside at the board, take the chair, occupy the chair, be in the chair, pull the stroke oar, tend towards, bend towards, point towards, conduct to, go to, point to, point at, bend, trend, verge, incline, dip, determine, steer for, steer towards, make for, make towards, aim at, level at, take aim, keep a course, hold a course, be bound for, bend one's steps towards, direct one's course, steer one's course, bend one's course, shape one's course, align one's march, allign one's march, to straight, go straight to the point, march on, march on a point, ascertain one's direction, s'orienter, see which way the wind blows, box the compass, take the air line.

Director

N director, manager, governor, rector, comptroller, superintendent, supervisor, straw boss, intendant, overseer, overlooker, supercargo, husband, inspector, visitor, ranger, surveyor, aedile, moderator, monitor, taskmaster, master, leader, ringleader, demagogue, corypheus, conductor, fugleman, precentor, bellwether, agitator, caporal, choregus, collector, file leader, flugelman, linkboy, guiding star, adviser, guide, pilot, helmsman, steersman, steermate, wire-puller, driver, whip, Jehu, charioteer, coachman, carman, cabman, postilion, vetturino, muleteer, arriero, teamster, whipper in, head, head man, head center, boss, principal, president, speaker, chair, chairman, chairwoman, chairperson, captain, superior, mayor, vice president, prime minister, premier, vizier, grand vizier, eparch, officer, functionary, minister, official, red-tapist, bureaucrat, man in office, Jack in office, office bearer, person in authority, statesman, strategist, legislator, lawgiver, politician, statist, statemonger, Minos, Draco, arbiter, boss, political dictator, board, secretary, secretary of state, Reis Effendi, vicar, steward, factor, agent, bailiff, middleman, foreman, clerk of works, landreeve, factotum, major-domo, seneschal, housekeeper, shepherd, croupier, proctor, procurator, ex officio.

Mariner

N sailor, mariner, navigator, seaman, seafarer, seafaring man, dock walloper, tar, jack tar, salt, able seaman, A, B, man-of-war's man, bluejacket, galiongee, galionji, marine, jolly, midshipman, middy, skipper, shipman, boatman, ferryman, waterman, lighterman, bargeman, longshoreman, bargee, gondolier, oar, oarsman, rower, boatswain, cockswain, coxswain, steersman, pilot, crew, aerial navigator, aeronaut, balloonist, Icarus, aeroplanist, airman, aviator, birdman, man-bird, wizard of the air, aviatrix, flier, pilot, test pilot, glider pilot, bush pilot, navigator, flight attendant, steward, stewardess, crew, astronaut, cosmonaut, parachutist, paratrooper, sailor, mariner, navigator, seaman, seafarer, seafaring man, dock walloper, tar, jack tar, salt, able seaman, A, B, man-of-war's man, bluejacket, galiongee, galionji, marine, jolly, midshipman, middy, skipper, shipman, boatman, ferryman, waterman, lighterman, bargeman, longshoreman, bargee, gondolier, oar, oarsman, rower, boatswain, cockswain, coxswain, steersman, pilot, crew, aerial navigator, aeronaut, balloonist, Icarus, aeroplanist, airman, aviator, birdman, man-bird, wizard of the air, aviatrix, flier, pilot, test pilot, glider pilot, bush pilot, navigator, flight attendant, steward, stewardess, crew, astronaut, cosmonaut, parachutist, paratrooper.

Information

N information, enlightenment, acquaintance, knowledge, publicity, data, communication, intimation, notice, notification, enunciation, annunciation, announcement, communiqu_e, representation, round robin, presentment, case, estimate, specification, report, advice, monition, news, return, account, statement, mention, acquainting, instruction, outpouring, intercommunication, communicativeness, informant, authority, teller, intelligencer, reporter, exponent, mouthpiece, informer, eavesdropper, delator, detective, sleuth, mouchard, spy, newsmonger, messenger, amicus curiae, valet de place, cicerone, pilot, guide, guidebook, handbook, vade mecum, manual, map, plan, chart, gazetteer, itinerary, hint, suggestion, innuendo, inkling, whisper, passing word, word in the ear, subaudition, cue, byplay, gesture, gentle hint, broad hint, verbum sapienti, a word to the wise, insinuation, information theory, bit, byte, word, doubleword, quad word, paragraph, segment, magnetic media, paper medium, optical media, random access memory, RAM, read-only memory, ROM, write once read mostly memory, WORM, informed, communique, reported, published, expressive, explicit plain spoken, (artless), nuncupative, nuncupatory, declaratory, expository, enunciative, communicative, communicatory, from information received, a little bird told me, I heard it through the grapevine.