pilot English · revision 4706

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=1530|origins=grc πηδόν}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpaɪ.lət/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|pilote|t=steersman]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from [[it|pilota]], piloto,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) an alteration of Old Italian pedota, pedoto,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) usually explained as from Medieval Greek *pēdṓtēs “helmsman”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[grc|πηδόν|tr=pēdón|t=oar]], plural “rudder”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) related to poús, podós “foot”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The change of d to l is like that in Latin odor and olet “it smells”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) It is related to [[foot]] and [[pedal]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who steers a ship, especially one who takes it in and out of harbour: 1530 in Barnhart and the OED, in Palsgrave;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the 1510s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, a guide or director, is from the 1590s (1593 in the OED).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb was figurative first, “to guide through dangerous places” (1649),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and literal, to steer a ship, from 1693.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The person who flies a balloon was called a pilot in the 1830s,^(Cresswell 2021) or by 1848 in Barnhart and Etymonline,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and later of aircraft and spacecraft.^(OED 1989) To fly an aircraft as pilot is from 1852.^(OED 1989) The ''pilot light'' is from 1890.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The adjective “serving as a trial version”, as in ''pilot study'' or ''pilot film'', is from 1928,^(Barnhart 1988) and the noun, a trial television programme, from 1962.^(OED 1989) ''Drop the pilot'', to abandon a trusted adviser, is after a cartoon of Bismarck's dismissal.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1530 – one who steers a ship.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1593 – a guide, figuratively.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1649 – verb, to guide.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1693 – verb, to steer a ship.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1848 – one who flies a balloon or aircraft.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – ''pilot light''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1928 – adjective, experimental.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1962 – a trial television programme.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person who flies an [[aircraft]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person licensed to steer ships into and out of a [[harbour]] or through difficult waters.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A single programme made to test whether a television series would be popular.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A guide or leader.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[pilot light]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fly an aircraft or steer a ship as pilot.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To guide or lead through a difficult situation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To test a plan or product on a small scale before it is used widely.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Done as a test before something is introduced widely: ''a pilot scheme''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[pilotless]]

+ * [[autopilot]]

+ * [[pilothouse]]

+ * [[pilotweed]]

+ * [[copilot]]

+ * [[pilotage]]

+ * [[bush pilot]]

+ * [[pilot balloon]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[foot]]

+ * [[pedal]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}