Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Pilot?

\Pi"lot\, n. 1. (A["e]ronautics) One who flies, or is qualified to fly, a balloon, an airship, or a flying machine. 2. (Mach.) A short plug at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool. Pilots are sometimes made interchangeable. 3. (Mining) The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.
\Pi"lot\, v. t. (A["e]ronautics) To fly, or act as pilot of (an aircraft).
\Pi"lot\, 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.] 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}. (Zo["o]l.) (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}. (Zo["o]l) (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} (Zo["o]l.) (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}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Blackfish}, 1.
\Pi"lot\, v. 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.