Pilot

8 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pilot \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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a
        difficult or unknown course.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. An instrument for detecting the compass error.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. The cowcatcher of a locomotive. [U.S.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. (A["e]ronautics) One who flies, or is qualified to fly, an
        airplane, balloon, or other flying machine.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
  
     7. (Mach.) A short plug at the end of a counterbore to guide
        the tool. Pilots are sometimes made interchangeable.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     8. (Mining) The heading or excavation of relatively small
        dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     9. (Television) 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}. (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.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pilot \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.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or
        difficulties. "The art of piloting a state." --Berkeley.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (A["e]ronautics) To fly, or act as pilot of (an aircraft);
        to operate (an airplane).
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Cowcatcher \Cow"catch`er\ (-k?ch`?r), n.
     A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in
     front of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off
     obstructions on a railway, as cattle; the {pilot}. [U.S.]
  
     Syn: fender, buffer, pilot.
          [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  pilot
       n 1: someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight
            [syn: {airplane pilot}]
       2: a person qualified to guide ships through difficult waters
          going into or out of a harbor
       3: a program exemplifying a contemplated series; intended to
          attract sponsors [syn: {pilot program}, {pilot film}]
       4: an original model on which something is patterned [syn: {original},
           {archetype}]
       5: small auxiliary gas burner that provides a flame to ignite a
          larger gas burner [syn: {pilot burner}, {pilot light}]
       6: an inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to
          clear the track [syn: {fender}, {buffer}, {cowcatcher}]
       v 1: fly a plane [syn: {fly}, {aviate}]
       2: act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan,
          direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance; "Is
          anyone volunteering to navigate during the trip?"; "Who
          was navigating the ship during the accident?" [syn: {navigate}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  195 Moby Thesaurus words for "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
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  PILOT
       
          Programmed Inquiry Learning Or Teaching.  CAI language, many
          versions.  "Guide to 8080 PILOT", J. Starkweather, Dr Dobb's J
          (Apr 1977).
       
       

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  PILOT, mer. law. This word has two meanings. It signifies, first, an officer 
  serving on board of a ship during the course of a voyage, and having the 
  charge of the helm and of the ship's route; and, secondly, an officer 
  authorized by law, who is taken on board at a particular place, for the 
  purpose of conducting a ship through a river, road or channel, or from or 
  into port. 
       2. Pilots of the second description are established by legislative 
  enactments at the principal seaports in this country, and have rights, and 
  are bound to perform duties, agreeably to the provisions of the several laws 
  establishing them. 
       3. Pilots have been established in all maritime countries. After due 
  trial and experience of their qualifications, they are licensed to offer 
  themselves as guides in difficult navigation; and they are usually, on the 
  other hand, bound to obey the call of a ship-master to exercise their 
  functions. Abbott on Ship. 180; 1 John R. 305; 4 Dall. 205; 2 New R. 82; 5 
  Rob. Adm. Rep. 308; 6 Rob. Adm. R. 316; Laws of Oler. art. 23; Molloy, B. 2, 
  c. 9, s. 3 and 7; Wesk. Ins. 395; Act of Congress of 7th August, 1789, s. 4; 
  Merl. Repert. h.t.; Pardessus, n. 637. 
  
  

From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:

  Pilot, VA
    Zip code(s): 24138