Pllobolus 
Pilobolus (pi-lo-bo'lus), n. [NL., < (1) Gr.fri^of, 
felt, + /teXof, a clod, lump : see bole*, balus.] A 
genus of phycomycetous fungi, typical of the 
subfamily 1'ilobolese. P. cryntaUinui, the commonest 
species, occurs on animal dung. Its glutinous spores are 
forcibly ejected, often to a distance of ten feet. 
pilocarpine (pi-lo-kar'pin), n. [< pilocarpus 
+ -i;i5 ] An alkaloid (C 11 H 16 NQO 2 ) isolated 
from pilocarpus, which it resembles in its me- 
dicinal properties. 
Pilocarpus (pi-lo-kUr'pus),. [NL. (Vahl, 1796), 
< Or. rri/of, a cap, + napiro(, fruit.] 1. A ge- 
nus of polypetalous shrubs of the order Ruta- 
cex and tribe Zanthoxyleie, characterized by the 
small calyx-teeth, valvate petals, versatile an- 
thers, smooth ovary-lobes, aud one-seeded cells, 
and by the complete numerical symmetry of the 
flower in circles of fours and fives. The 12 spe. 
cles are natives of the West Indies and tropical America. 
They bear pellucid-dotted leaves, either thin or coriaceous, 
pinnate or of one to three leaflets, alternate, opposite, or 
whorlcd. The numerous small green or purple flowers 
form very long terminal or axillary racemes. 
2. [1. c.j The leaflets of /'. pennatij'olius, a very 
powerful diaphoretic medicine. Also known as 
jaborandi, though this word has been applied 
to various pungent sudorific plants. 
pilori-rat (pi-16'ri-rat), n. A book-name of the 
Cuban hutia-conga, Capromys piloriden. 
Pilori-rat ( Capromys fiilorittes). 
pilose (pi'los), a. [Also pilous; < L. pilonua, 
hairy, < pilvn, hair: see pile*.] Covered with 
hair; hairy; furry; pilous; especially, covered 
with fine or soft hair. 
pilosity (pi-los'i-ti), n. [< pilose + -ity.~\ The 
state of being pilose or pilous ; hairiness. 
rHi*ttii is incident to orifices of moisture. 
Iliifiin, Advancement of Learning, II. 169. 
pilot (pi'lpt). n. [Early mod. E. also pilotte, 
pylate; < OP. pilot, F. pilote = 8p. Pg. piloto = 
It. piloto, pilota (ML. pilotun, pilota), a pilot ; 
cf. MD. pilote, piloot, pijloot, pijlloot (Kilian), 
peilloot (Sewel), D. piloot = MLG. pilote, a 
pilot; origin uncertain; appar., through OF. 
piloter, ptlotier, "to sound the depth of water 
with a line and plummet" (Cotgrave), < MD. 
*peylloot, *peilloot, D. peillood, a sounding-lead 
(= Ot.peil-loth, sounding-lead, plummet), < pey- 
len, pijlcn (Kilian), D. peilen (= Q. peilen, take 
soundings) (contr. of MD. pegelen, measure the 
capacity of anything, < pegel, the capacity of 
a vessel's gage), + loot, D. load = G. loth = E. 
lead : see lead?.] 1. The steersman of a ship ; 
that one of a ship's crew who has charge of 
the helm and the ship's course; specifically, 
one who works a ship into and out of harbor, 
or through a channel or passage, in this specific 
sense the pilot is a person possessing local knowledge of 
shallows, rocks, currents, channels, etc., licensed by pub- 
lic authority to steer vessels Into and out of particular 
harbors, or along certain coasts, etc., and rendering such 
special service for a compensation, fixed usually with ref- 
erence to the draft of water and the distance. 
And whanne we shuld a take the Porte, Sodenly fell 
down and Deyde the Pylate of our shippe, which we call 
lodysmaii. Torkintjton, Diarle of Eng. Travel!, p. 60. 
Times answerable, like waters after a tempest, fall of 
working and swelling, though without extremity of storm ; 
but well passed through by the wisdom of the pilot. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 131* 
Passengers In a ship always submit to their pilot'! dis- 
cretion, but especially in a storm. South, Sermons, X. v. 
The city remaining . . . without government of magis- 
trate, like a ship left without a i>ilul. 
Sorth, tr. of Plutarch, p. 801. 
The high-shoed ploughman, should he quit the land 
To take the jnlot's rudder in his hand, . . . 
Tln> Rods would leave him to the waves and wind, 
And think all shame was lost in human kind. 
Dryden, tr. of Persius's Satires, v. 148. 
2. A guide ; a director of the course of others; 
one who has the conduct of any affair requir- 
ing knowledge and judgment. 
4491 
All must obey 
The counsell of the pilot, & still stand 
Prest at nil service, when he doth command. 
Time*' Whittle (E. E. T. S.), p. 144. 
3. Same as cote-catcher. See cut under passen- 
ger-engine. [U. 8.] 4. A book of sailing-di- 
rections. 6. Pilot-cloth. 
Linings, rugs, wraps, and heavy friezes, pilot', druggets, 
blankets, etc., In which bulk and warmth more than wear- 
resisting qualities are required. Encyc. llrit., XXIV. 681. 
6. The pilot-fish. 7. The black-bellied Clover, 
Squatarota helvetica. G. Trvmbult. [\ irginia 
coast.] Coasting-pilot Same as coait-piM. Pilot's 
water, any part of the sea or of a river In which a pilot 
must be employed. (See also braneh-pUoL) 
pilot (pi'lot), v. t. [< P. piloter, pilot ; from the 
noun.] To steer; direct the course of, espe- 
cially through an intricate orperiloua passage ; 
guide through dangers or difficulties. 
Where the people are well-educated, the art of pilotiny 
a state is best learned from the writings of Plato. 
Dp. Berkeley, Slrls, | 332. 
If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the 
Union on this voyage, nobody will have a chance to pilot her 
on another voyage. Lincoln, In Raymond, p. 89. 
pilotage (pi'lqt-aj), M. [< P. pilotage, < piloter, 
pilot: see pilot, r.] 1. The act of piloting; 
direction of a pilot ; guidance. 
Under his pilotaye they anchored on the first of Novem- 
ber close to the Isthmus of Darlen. 
Macaulay, Hist Eng., xxlv. 
2. The employment or services of a pilot : as, 
incompetent pilotage. 3f. The knowledge of 
coasts, rocks, bars, and channels. 
We must for ever abandon the Indies, and lose all our 
knowledge and pilotage of that part of the world. Raleiyh. 
4. The fee or remuneration paid or payable to 
a pilot for his services Compulsory pilotage, 
compulsory employment of pilots In accordance with local 
law. Pilotage authority, a body of men appointed to 
test the qualifications of applicants for pilots' licenses, and 
to grant or suspend such licenses, etc. Pilotage dis- 
trict, the limit of jurisdiction of a pilotage authority. 
pilotaxitic (pi'lo-tak-sit'ik), a. [Irreg. < Gr. 
jri/of, felt, + raf(f, arrangement, + -ite 2 + -ic.] 
In lithol., a term introduced by Rosenbusch to 
designate a holocrystalline structure said by him 
to be characteristic of certain rocks, and espe- 
cially of the porphyrites, in which the ground- 
mass consists of slender lath-shaped microliths 
of feldspar, with which are frequently connected 
the phenomena of fluidal structure, amygdules, 
and the presence of minute vitreous scales. 
pilot-balloon ipi'lot-ba-lou'), . A small bal- 
loon sent up in advance of a larger one to ascer- 
tain the direction and strength of the wind. 
pilot-bird (pi'lot-berd), . A bird found in the 
Caribbean Islands : so called because its pres- 
ence at sea indicates to seamen their approach 
to these islands. 
pilot-boat (pi'lot-bot), . A boat used by pi- 
Iota for cruising off shore to meet incoming 
ships. On the coast of the United States pilot-boats are 
handy, weatherly schooner-rigged vessels, and frequently 
cruise at a longdistance off shore ; they are distinguished 
by a flag and by a number painted conspicuously on the 
mainsail, and at night by a flare-up light, In addition to a 
masthead light. 
pilot-bread (pi'lot-bred), M. Same as ghij>-bix- 
riiit. 
pilot-cloth (pi'lot-kldth), . A heavy woolen 
cloth, such as is used by pilots for pea-jackets. 
piloteert, [<pttot + -eer.] A pilot. 
Whereby the wand'rlng POaUtr 
His course in gloomy Nights doth steer. 
Uowll, Letters, lit 4. 
pilot-engine (pi'lot-en'jin), H. A locomotive 
engine sent on before a railway-train to see the 
way is clear, especially as a precursor to a train 
conveying important personages. 
pilus 
pilot-fish (pl'lot-flsh), n. 1. A pelagic caraugoid 
fish, Xaucriihx ductor, found m all warm seas, 
and occasionally on the Atlantic coast of the 
United States. It somewhat resembles a mackerel, 
being of fusiform shape, bluish color, with from five to 
even dark vertical ban, and the first dorsal fin repre- 
sented by a few spines. It Is a foot or more long. The 
pilot null Is supposed by some to have been the pompllus 
of the ancients, but the traditions respecting It have little 
foundation In fact The generic name Kauaralet was ap- 
plied by the ancients to specie* of Eeltetuil and other 
fishes with a suctorial disk. See cut under Kaucrale*. 
2. ill. A term extended to all the Caratiyiilse. 
D. S. Jordan. 3. A remora or sucking-fish of 
the family Echeneididte, as Echeneig nuticraten. 
[This use of the term is nearer the original 
meaning of Jfaucrates.~\ 4. A coregonid, ('o- 
reqonus quadrilateralig, the Meuomonee white- 
fish or shad-waiter of New England, some of 
the Great Lakes, and parts of British America 
to Alaska. 
pilot-flag (pi'lot-flag), . The flag hoisted at 
the fore by a vessel needing a pilot, in vessels 
flying the United States flag the pilot-flag Is the union- 
jack. It varies In other nationalities, but Is always holsUxl 
at the fore. 
pilot-house (pi'lot-houg), n. An inclosed place 
or house on deck which shelters the steering- 
gear and the pilot or helmsman. In modern 
sea-going steam-vessels this Is usually situated In some 
commanding position forward, and generally in connec- 
tion with the officers' bridge. In a very large proportion 
of vessels, however, there Is no pilot-house, the steersmen 
and steering gear being left exposed. Also called whttl- 
fi, ,,.. . 
pilotism (pi'lot-izm), n. [< pilot + -ixm.] Pi- 
lotage; skill in piloting. Cotgrarf. [Rare.] 
pilot-jack (pi'lot-jak), . A union or other 
flag hoisted t>y a vessel as a signal for a pilot. 
pilot-jacket (pi'lot-jak'ct), . A pea-jacket, 
such as is worn by seamen. See pea-jacket. 
pilot-light (pi'lot-lit), n. A very small gas- 
light kept burning beside a large burner, HO 
that when the flow through the main burner is 
turned on it will be automatically lighted by 
the pilot-light. It is usually protected by a 
shield from being accidentally blown out. See 
bu-pass. 
pilotry (pi'lot-ri), H. Same as pilotitm. 
pilot-snake (pi'lot-snak), . A harmless nnako 
of the United States, Coluber oosoletus. 
pilotweed (pi' lot- wed), . Same as conijtatm- 
plant. 
pilot-whale (pi'lot-hwal), . Same as caaiiiy- 
ichale. 
pilourt, " See piller 1 . 
pilous (pi'lus), a. [< Ij.pHoguii, hairy: eeepi- 
tow.] 1. Covered with hair ; hairy; pilose. 
That hair Is not poison, though taken In a great quan- 
tity, Is proved by the excrements of voracious dogs, which 
is Men to be very pilota. 
J. Kobinton, Eudoxa(166bX p. 124. 
2. Consisting of hair; hair-like; piliform: as, a 
piloug covering. 
Also pileous. 
pilula (pil'u-lft), n.; pi. piluUe (-le). [L.: see 
pilule.] In p"kar., a pill. 
pllular (pil'u-lftr), a. [< NL. 'pttularig, < L. 
pilula, a pilule:" see pilule.] Of or pertaining 
to or characteristic of pills: ax.a/n/u/armass: 
ntHlular form ; &pilular consistency. 
Pilularia (pil-u-la'ri-ft), M. [NL. (Vaillant, 
1717), so called in allusion to the shape of the 
reproductive organs; <*pilularis, like a pill: see 
]>ilular.~\ A genus of vascular cryptogamous 
plants of the order Marsileatete; the pillworts. 
They are Inconspicuous submerged plants with widely 
creeping slender rhizomes, with a filiform leaf from the 
upper side and a tuft of root-fibers from the lower side of 
each node. Seven species are known, of which only one, 
P. Americana, Is found In North America. See pfppfr- 
fffatt, 2, and pilltcort. 
pilule (pil'ul), H. [= P. pilule = Pg- pilula, < L. 
piluta, a pill, dim. of pi la, a ball. Cf. pill 3 .] -\ 
little pill or pellet. 
pilulous (pil u-lus), a. [< pilule + -/.] 1'tr- 
tHining to or resembling a pill; pilular; hence, 
small; inconsiderable; trifling. [Rare.] 
Has anyone ever pinched Into Its pilvlmu smallness the 
cobweb of pre-matrimonial acquaintanceship? 
George Eliot, Middlemarch, II. 
pilum (pi'luni), M.: pl./jiin (-la). [L. : seepiie 1 .] 
1. A heavy javelin used by the Roman foot- 
soldiers. 2. Any javelin used by barbarous 
races with whom the Romans had to do, as by 
the Franks, Burgundians, and others. 3. In 
phar., an instrument used to triturate sub- 
stances in a mortar; a pestle. 
pilus (pi'lus), n.; pl.pili (-li). [L., a hair, hair: 
see fife*.] 1. In bot., one of the fine slender 
bodies, like hair, covering some plants. 2. In 
_"..7.. a hair or hair-like body, especially a hair 
