Part 281

Pilot balloon, a small balloon sent up in advance of a large one, to show the direction and force of the wind. -- Pilot bird. (Zoˆl.) (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. (Zoˆl) (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 (Zoˆl.) (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. (Zoˆl.) Same as Blackfish, 1.

Pi"lot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Piloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Piloting.] [Cf. F. piloter.] 1. To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous.

2. Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties. "The art of piloting a state." Berkeley.

Pi"lot*age (?), n. [Cf. F. pilotage.] 1. The pilot's skill or knowledge, as of coasts, rocks, bars, and channels. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

2. The compensation made or allowed to a pilot.

3. Guidance, as by a pilot. Sir W. Scott.

{ Pi"lot*ism (?), Pi"lot*ry (?), } n. Pilotage; skill in the duties of a pilot. [R.]

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Pil"our (?), n. A piller; a plunderer. [Obs.]

Pil"ous (?), a. See Pilose.

Pil"ser (?), n. An insect that flies into a flame.

Pil"u*lar (?), a. Of or pertaining to pills; resembling a pill or pills; as, a pilular mass.

Pil"u*lous (?), a. [L. pilula a pill. See Pill.] Like a pill; small; insignificant. [R.] G. Eliot.

Pil"we (?), n. A pillow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Pi"ly (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Like pile or wool.

Pi*mar"ic (?), a. [NL. pinum maritima, an old name for P. Pinaster, a pine which yields galipot.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found in galipot, and isomeric with abietic acid.

Pi*mel"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; fat.] (Chem.) (a) Pertaining to, or designating, a substance obtained from certain fatty substances, and subsequently shown to be a mixture of suberic and adipic acids. (b) Designating the acid proper (C5H10(CO2/H)2) which is obtained from camphoric acid.

Pim"e*lite (?), n. [Gr. &?; fat.] (Min.) An apple-green mineral having a greasy feel. It is a hydrous silicate of nickel, magnesia, aluminia, and iron.

Pi"ment (?), n. [F. See Pimento.] Wine flavored with spice or honey. See Pigment, 3. [Obs.]

Pi*men"ta (?), n. (Bot.) Same as Pimento.

Pi*men"to (?), n. [Sp. pimiento, pimienta; cf. Pg. pimenta, F. piment; all fr. L. pigmentum a paint, pigment, the juice of plants; hence, something spicy and aromatic. See Pigment.] (Bot.) Allspice; -- applied both to the tree and its fruit. See Allspice.

Pim"li*co (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The friar bird.

Pimp (pmp), n. [Cf. F. pimpant smart, sparkish; perh. akin to piper to pipe, formerly also, to excel. Cf. Pipe.] One who provides gratification for the lust of others; a procurer; a pander. Swift.

Pimp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pimped (pmt; 215); p. pr. & vb. n. Pimping.] To procure women for the gratification of others' lusts; to pander. Dryden.

Pim"per*nel (?), n. [F. pimprenelle; cf. Sp. pimpinela, It. pimpinella; perh. from LL. bipinnella, for bipinnula two-winged, equiv. to L. bipennis; bis twice + penna feather, wing. Cf. Pen a feather.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Anagallis, of which one species (A. arvensis) has small flowers, usually scarlet, but sometimes purple, blue, or white, which speedily close at the approach of bad weather.

Water pimpernel. (Bot.) See Brookweed.

||Pim"pil*lo (?), n. (Bot.) A West Indian name for the prickly pear ||(Opuntia); -- called also pimploes.

Pim"pi*nel (?), n. [See Pimpernel.] (Bot.) The burnet saxifrage. See under Saxifrage.