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Skipper vs Pilot - What's the difference?

skipper | pilot |

In transitive terms the difference between skipper and pilot

is that skipper is to be the skipper of a ship while pilot is to test or have a preliminary trial of (an idea, a new product, etc..

As an adjective pilot is

made or used as a test or demonstration of capability. (pilot run, pilot plant.

skipper

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) scipper, from scip. Compare German (m), (m), Old Norse (m); confer (m), (m).

Noun

(en noun)
  • (label) The master of a ship (literally, 'shipper').
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=10 , passage=The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.}}
  • A coach, director, or other leader.
  • (label) The captain of a sports team such as football, cricket, rugby or curling.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2010, date=December 29, author=Sam Sheringham, work=BBC
  • , title= Liverpool 0-1 Wolverhampton , passage=But even the return of skipper Steven Gerrard from a six-week injury layoff could not inspire Liverpool}}
    Synonyms
    * (nautical) master , captain

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To be the skipper of a ship
  • Etymology 2

    See to skip .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • one who skips.
  • A person who skips, or fails to attend class.
  • Any of various butterflies of the families Hesperiidae and its subfamily Megathyminae, having a hairy mothlike body, hooked tips on the antennae, and a darting flight pattern.
  • Any of several marine fishes that often leap above water, especially .
  • (obsolete) A young, thoughtless person.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • The , which leap to escape predators.
  • (Webster 1913)

    pilot

    English

    (wikipedia pilot)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.
  • (Dryden)
  • A person who knows well the depths and currents of a harbor or coastal area, who is hired by a vessel to help navigate the harbor or coast.
  • An instrument for detecting the compass error.
  • (AU, road transport, informal) A pilot vehicle.
  • (AU, road transport) A person authorised to drive such a vehicle during an escort.
  • A guide or escort through an unknown or dangerous area.
  • * 1834 , , A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett , E. L. Cary and A. Hart, page 43:
  • So we mounted our horses, and put out for that town, under the direction of two friendly Creeks we had taken for pilots .
  • Something serving as a test or trial.
  • We would like to run a pilot in your facility before rolling out the program city-wide.
    The pilot plant showed the need for major process changes.
  • A person who is in charge of the controls of an aircraft.
  • A sample episode of a proposed TV series
  • (rail transport) A cowcatcher.
  • A pilot light.
  • One who flies a kite.
  • * 2003 , John P. Glaser, A Father's Collage , page 31:
  • Julia has become quite a good kite pilot . She has learned how to repeatedly buzz her father's head, coming within two feet, and not hitting him.

    Derived terms

    * autopilot * bush pilot * copilot * hangar pilot * Palm Pilot * pilot fish * pilot whale * test pilot

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Made or used as a test or demonstration of capability. (pilot run'', ''pilot plant )
  • Used to control or activate another device. (pilot light)
  • A vehicle to warn other road users of the presence of an oversize vehicle/combination. (pilot vehicle )
  • Used to indicate operation ("pilot lamp")
  • Derived terms

    * pilot experiment * pilot hole * pilot light * pilot version

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To control (an aircraft or watercraft).
  • To guide (a vessel) through coastal waters.
  • To test or have a preliminary trial of (an idea, a new product, etc.)