Pilot whale

Pilot whale
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}. (Zo["o]l.) (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}. (Zo["o]l) (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} (Zo["o]l.) (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}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Blackfish}, 1. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • pilot whale — pilot .whale n a small ↑whale with black skin …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • pilot whale — n. BLACKFISH (sense 1) …   English World dictionary

  • Pilot whale — Taxobox name = Pilot Whale image width = 250px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Mammalia ordo = Cetacea familia = Delphinidae genus = Globicephala range range map width = 250px range map caption = Green: Long finned range; Blue:… …   Wikipedia

  • pilot whale — a small, common whale, Globicephala sieboldii, of tropical and temperate seas, having a bulbous head. [1865 70] * * * Any of one to three species (genus Globicephala, family Delphinidae) of toothed whale found in all oceans except the Arctic and… …   Universalium

  • pilot whale — paprastoji grinda statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Globicephala melaena angl. Atlantic blackfish; blackfish; calling whale; common blackfish; common pilot whale; driving whale; howling whale; long… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • pilot whale — noun small dark colored whale of the Atlantic coast of the United States; the largest male acts as pilot or leader for the school • Syn: ↑black whale, ↑common blackfish, ↑blackfish, ↑Globicephala melaena • Hypernyms: ↑dolphin • Member …   Useful english dictionary

  • pilot whale — noun Either of two species of whale in the genus Globicephala, dark grey in colour …   Wiktionary

  • pilot whale — noun a black toothed whale with a square bulbous head. [Genus Globicephala: two species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • pilot whale — pi′lot whale n. mam either of two large, black, bulbous headed species of dolphin of the genus Globicephala[/ex] • Etymology: 1865–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • pilot whale — noun Date: 1867 either of two chiefly black medium sized toothed whales (Globicephala melaena syn. G. melas and G. macrorhynchus) called also blackfish …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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