![pilot-fish pilot-fish](https://www.tekportal.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/pilot-fish.jpg)
noun, plural (especially collectively) pi·lot·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) pi·lot·fish·es.
- a small, marine fish, Naucrates ductor, often swimming with sharks.
- any of various other fishes having similar habits.
n.1630s, from pilot (n.) + fish (n.). So called because they were thought to lead sharks to prey.