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).
Phrases and idioms:
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.
Derivatives:
pilotage n. pilotless adj.
Etymology: F pilote f. med.L pilotus, pedot(t)a f. Gk pedon oar