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Pilot vs Steersman - What's the difference?

pilot | steersman | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between pilot and steersman

is that pilot is a person who steers a ship, a helmsman while steersman is one who steers a ship; the helmsman.

As an adjective pilot

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

As a verb pilot

is to control (an aircraft or watercraft).

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.)
  • steersman

    English

    Noun

    (steersmen)
  • (nautical) One who steers a ship; the helmsman.
  • *
  • And as for a tiller, the whale-boat never admits of any such effeminacy; and therefore as in gamming a complete boat’s crew must leave the ship, and hence as the boat steerer or harpooneer is of the number, that subordinate is the steersman upon the occasion, and the captain, having no place to sit in, is pulled off to his visit all standing like a pine tree.

    Synonyms

    * (one who steers) helmsman, sternsman

    Anagrams

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