Pilot

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpaɪlÉ™t/
• Rhymes: -aɪlÉ™t

Origin

From Middle French pilot, pillot, from Italian piloto, from Late Latin pillottus; perhaps ultimately from Ancient Greek πηδόν (pēdon, "blade of an oar, oar") , hence also Ancient and Modern Greek πηδάλιον (pēdalion), "rudder" http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%2382894.

Full definition of pilot

Noun

1. A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.
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. (AU, road transport, informal) A pilot vehicle.
5. (AU, 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, Davy 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 city-wide.The pilot plant showed the need for major process changes.
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.

Derived terms

Adjective

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")

Derived terms

• pilot experiment
• pilot hole
• pilot light
• pilot version

Verb

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.)