Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - pilot

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