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pilothouse

American  
[pahy-luht-hous] / ˈpaɪ lətˌhaʊs /

noun

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


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of pilothouse

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

The pilothouse structure broke loose when it sank and came to rest farther back, toward the stern; the roofs of the cabins were torn off by escaping air as the ship sank.

From Washington Times Sep. 12, 2020

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

With both hands he grabbed the lip of the pilothouse roof and hoisted himself up on the warped bare wood.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Popular with both cruising yachtsmen and liveaboards, all Krogen yachts carry raised pilothouses.

From Time Magazine Archive

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