pilot

Definition

A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.

Etymology

From Middle French pilot, pillot, from Italian pilota, piloto, older also pedotta, pedot(t)o (the form in pil- is probably influenced by pileggiare (“to sail, navigate”)); ultimately from unattested Byzantine Greek *πηδώτης (*pēdṓtēs, “helmsman”), from Ancient Greek πηδόν (pēdón, “blade of an oar, oar”), hence also Ancient and Modern Greek πηδάλιον (pēdálion, “rudder”).

Example Sentences

• "They scud before the wind, and sail in open sea. Ahead of all the master pilot steers; And, as he leads, the following navy veers."
• "So we mounted our horses, and put out for that town, under the direction of two friendly Creeks we had taken for pilots."
• "We would like to run a pilot in your facility before rolling out the program citywide."