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Where does the word "pilot" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin pedotta, passing through Old French before entering English (1500s).
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Where does the word "pilot" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin pedotta, passing through Old French before entering English (1500s).
Pilot’s story begins in Medieval Latin: pedotta meant “steersman.” From Greek 'pēdon', oar or rudder. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as pilote. Came through Italian 'pilota'. It reached English by 1500s as pilot. Aircraft 'pilots' date from 1907. Today, pilot means a person who operates an aircraft.
- Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval pedotta "steersman", from Greek 'pēdon', oar or rudder.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval pilote "ship's steersman", came through Italian 'pilota'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s pilot "steersman", aircraft 'pilots' date from 1907.