Coxswain vs. Pilot — What's the Difference?

The coxswain ( KOK-sən) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cock, a cockboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, an Old English term derived from the Old Norse sveinn meaning boy or servant.

One who operates or is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight.

The person who steers a ship's boat, racing boat, or other boat.

One who, though not belonging to a ship's company, is licensed to conduct a ship into and out of port or through dangerous waters.

A person who usually steers a ship's boat and has charge of its crew.

The helmsman of a ship.

A person in a racing shell who usually directs the rest of the crew.

One who guides or directs a course of action for others.

To act as coxswain or serve as coxswain for.

The part of a tool, device, or machine that leads or guides the whole.

In a ship's boat, the helmsman given charge of the boat's crew.

A pilot light, as in a stove.

(rowing) The member of a crew who steers the shell and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers.

A television program produced as a prototype of a series being considered for adoption by a network.

(archaic) The second or third mate of a vessel, in charge of the master's barge.

To serve as the pilot of (a plane, for example).

(naval) A rank or position.

To steer or control the course of

To act as coxswain for.

Serving as a tentative model for future experiment or development

See Cockswain.

Serving or leading as guide.

The helmsman of a ship's boat or a racing crew

A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.

A person who knows well the depths and currents of a harbor or coastal area, who is hired by a vessel to help navigate the harbor or coast.

A guide book for maritime navigation.

An instrument for detecting the compass error.

A pilot vehicle.

A person authorised to drive such a vehicle during an escort.

A guide or escort through an unknown or dangerous area.

Something serving as a test or trial.

(mining) The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.

(aviation) A person who is in charge of the controls of an aircraft.

(television) A sample episode of a proposed TV series produced to decide if it should be made or not. If approved, typically the first episode of an actual TV series.

(rail transport) A cowcatcher.

(motorsport) A driver.

A pilot light.

One who flies a kite.

A short plug, sometimes made interchangeable, at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool.

Made or used as a test or demonstration of capability.

Used to control or activate another device.

Being a vehicle to warn other road users of the presence of an oversize vehicle/combination.

(transitive) To control (an aircraft or watercraft).

(transitive) To guide (a vessel) through coastal waters.

(transitive) To test or have a preliminary trial of (an idea, a new product, etc.)

To serve as the leading locomotive on a double-headed train.

One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman.

Specifically, a person duly qualified, and licensed by authority, to conduct vessels into and out of a port, or in certain waters, for a fixed rate of fees.

Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course.

An instrument for detecting the compass error.

The cowcatcher of a locomotive.

One who flies, or is qualified to fly, an airplane, balloon, or other flying machine.

A short plug at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool. Pilots are sometimes made interchangeable.

The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.

A filmed or taped episode of a proposed television series, produced as an example of the series. It may be shown only to those television broadcast executives who may decide whether to buy the rights to the series, or aired to test viewer reaction or to interest sponsors. Also called pilot film or pilot tape.

To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous.

Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties.

To fly, or act as pilot of (an aircraft); to operate (an airplane).

Someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight

A person qualified to guide ships through difficult waters going into or out of a harbor

A program exemplifying a contemplated series; intended to attract sponsors

An original model on which something is patterned

Small auxiliary gas burner that provides a flame to ignite a larger gas burner

An inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to clear the track

Fly a plane

Act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan, direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance;