Definition

1. Noun:
   • A military chaplain: "sky pilot" is a slang term for a chaplain serving in the armed forces, such as the army, navy, or air force. The term historically connects the chaplain's spiritual guidance with the "sky" or heavens.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The soldiers appreciated having a sky pilot available for counsel before the mission.
  • He served as a sky pilot during the war, providing comfort to the troops.

Advanced Usage

• The term "sky pilot" is informal and carries a somewhat dated or historical connotation. It is less common in modern formal military contexts but may be used in historical accounts or literature.

Variants and Related Words

• Chaplain (n): the standard, formal term for a clergy member serving in a military unit, hospital, or other institution.
  • The hospital chaplain offered support to the families.
• Padre (n): another informal term, of Spanish/Italian origin, for a military chaplain.
  • The troops often referred to their chaplain as "the padre".

Synonyms

• Military chaplain: the formal equivalent.
• Clergyman: a general term for a male member of the clergy.

Related Phrases

• While "sky pilot" itself is not typically part of a phrasal verb, it is a fixed slang noun phrase.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms directly incorporate the term "sky pilot." The term itself functions as a metaphorical idiom, comparing a religious figure to a pilot navigating the spiritual "sky."

Noun

1. a chaplain in one of the military services