pilot balloon
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A small balloon sent up to try the wind; hence, figuratively, a feeler; a hint thrown out to ascertain public opinion on some point.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “pilot balloon” mean?
A small balloon sent up to try the wind; hence, figuratively, a feeler; a hint thrown out to ascertain public opinion on some point.
Is “pilot balloon” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.