pilothouse

American  

[pahy-luht-hous] / ˈpaɪ lətˌhaʊs /

noun

Nautical.

plural

pilothouses

1. an enclosed structure on the deck of a ship from which it can be navigated.

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Etymology

Origin of pilothouse

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; pilot + house

Example Sentences

Snow lashed against the pilothouse windows while he and his crew struggled to control the vessel and steer clear of icebergs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 12, 2025

Every position, from the engine room up the pilothouse, is below where the department would like to be.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2023

Johns said Golden Nugget, Lake Charles’ newest riverboat, had to have a paddle wheel, a pilothouse and a crew and, “It’s sitting on a mud flat to make it legal.”

From Washington Times • Dec. 13, 2017

Pointing out that international standards required a “clear view” from the bridge, Maersk insisted that the glass in those wing windows be heated, with windshield wipers, as it was for the pilothouse.

From BusinessWeek • Sep. 5, 2013

He passed die stairway to the pilothouse and squeezed past the extra cargo, crates of Kalamata olives and olive oil, sea sponges from Kos.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides