1. (n.) One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman.

2. (n.) 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.

3. (n.) Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course.

4. (n.) An instrument for detecting the compass error.

5. (n.) The cowcatcher of a locomotive.

6. (v. t.) To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous.

7. (v. t.) Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties.

Gyropilot aegis aerialist aeronaut aeroplaner aeroplanist agent air pilot airman airplanist arm guard astronaut auto automatic pilot aviator backstop barnstorm barnstormer be responsible for bellwether birdman boatheader boatsteerer buffer bulwark bumper captain carry on carry out carry through charioteer chart a course cicerone cloud seeder commercial pilot cond conduct conductor conn conner contraceptive control copilot copyright courier cowherd cox coxswain crash helmet crop-duster cushion cut-and-try dashboard deal with dean direct docking pilot dodger doyen dragoman drive driver drover empirical engineer escort experimental face mask fender finger guard flier fly foot guard functionary fuse goatherd goggles governor guard guardrail guide guidepost guider hand guard handle handler handrail hard hat have the conn helm helmet helmsman herd herdsman heuristic hit-or-miss hold the reins instructor insulation interlock jet jockey knee guard knuckle guard laminated glass lead leader licensed pilot life preserver lifeline lightning conductor lightning rod make go manage maneuver manipulate manipulator mask mercury motor mudguard navigate navigator nose guard operant operate operative operator pad padding palladium patent peel off perform on play pointer practice preventive probationary probative probatory prophylactic protective clothing protective umbrella proving provisional rainmaker river pilot route run runner safeguard safety safety glass safety plug safety rail safety shoes safety switch safety valve sailing master screen seat belt see see to shape a course shepherd shield shin guard show solo steer steerer steersman stunt flier stunt man sun helmet take care of take the helm tentative test test pilot testing tool tour director tour guide trial trial-and-error trying umbrella verificatory wheel wheelman windscreen windshield wingman work