Lootsi (Loots)

Pilot, in this case, a ship’s pilot. The word probably comes from MLG lōt, loet, lȫde, etc., for ‘lead’ (the metal, now Blei, see Tina) and for the weight or plummet used to test water depth, a word poss. borrowed from Old Eng. lead. Despite containing part of the same, Eng. ‘pilot’ is from French pillote, and ultimately Anc. Gk. πηδον (pedon), rudder, lit. steering oar, with its root, πηδ- (ped‑), suggesting a one-time control by foot. In 2022, a cog dating back to the 1350s was found at No.8, see Koge).