pilosity (pilositi)

[ Pilosity is incident to orifices of moisture. = = a pilot; MLG. pilote, a Bacon , Advancement of Learning, ii. 169. pilot (pilot), n. [Early mod. E. also pilotte , pylate ; pilot , F. pilote = Sp. Pg. piloto to pilot = It. piloto , pilot a (ML. pilot us , pilot a ), cf. MD. pilote , piloot , pijloot , pijlloot (Kilian), peilloot (Sewel), D. piloot pilot; origin uncertain; appar., through OF. piloter, pilotier , Potier , "to sound the depth of water with a line and plummet" (Cotgrave), peylloot , * peilloot , D. peillood , a sound sounding-lead (= G. peil - loth , sounding-lead, plummet), pey len , pijlen (Kilian), D. peilen (= G. peilen , take soundings) (contr. of MD. pegelen , measure the capacity of anything, pegel , the capacity of a ve el's gage), + loot , D. lood = G. Ioth = E. lead: see lead2 .] 1. The steersman of a ship; that one of a ship's crew who has charge of the helm and the ship's course; specifically, one who works a ship ship into and out of of harbor, or through a channel or pa age. In this specific sense the pilot is a person po e ing local knowledge of shallows, rocks, currents, channels, etc., licensed by public authority to steer ve els into and out of particular harbors, or along certain coasts, etc., and rendering such special service for a compensation, fixed usually with reference to the draft of water and the distance. And whanne we shuld a take the Porte, Sodenly fell down and Deyde the Pylate of our shippe, which we call lodysman. Torkington, Diarie of Eng. Travell, p. 60. on another voyage. pilotage (pilot-aj), n. [F. pilotage, Under his pilotage they anchored on the first of November close to the Isthmus of Darien. Macaulay , Hist. Eng., xxiv. 2. The employment or services of a pilot: as, incompetent pilotage.-3t. The knowledge of coasts, rocks, bars, and channels. We must for ever abandon the Indies, and lose all our knowledge and pilotage of that part of the world. Raleigh. 4. The fee or remuneration paid or payable to a pilot for his services. - Compulsory pilotage, compulsory employment of pilots in accordance with local law. Pilotage authority, a body of men appointed to test the qualifications of applicants for pilots' licenses, and to grant or suspend such licenses, etc. - Pilotage district, the limit of jurisdiction of a pilotage authority.