pilot boat

noun

1. a boat carrying pilots to or from large ships.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pilot boat¹

First recorded in 1580–90

Example Sentences

"I got my arm into the life buoy and the skipper went full ahead and pulled me out of the way. They got me on to the pilot boat."

From BBC

For ships heading to Ukraine’s three ports, smaller Ukrainian pilot boats will guide the vessels through approved corridors.

From Seattle Times

When they were still well out from shore, a pilot boat came to meet the Henry, and the pilot conducted them to anchorage a mile off Bourbon.

From Literature

America was built of white oak, locust cedar and chestnut and grew out of the design of New York’s swift and hardy pilot boats.

From Seattle Times

The surrealism of eating baby food while treading water and realizing with Cameron that our pilot boat was named Dynamic Duo.

From New York Times