pilot boat

American  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of pilot boat

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

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

"He was on his way trying to struggle back to England," said Mr Oram, who captains a Channel swimming pilot boat.

From BBC