Pi"lot , v. t. (Aëronautics)
To fly, or act as pilot of (an aircraft).
Pi"lot , n.
1. (Aëronautics) 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. [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.
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. (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.
Hear it pronounced