SOS

See also S.O.S., sos, and sós

Translingual

Etymology

Chosen because its morse code sequence (· · · — — — · · ·) was easy to remember and recognize even through interference. Many mnemonics and backronyms were later formed from the sequence.

Symbol

SOS

1. (radio slang) emergency, mayday, distress

Usage notes

The code SOS is normally only used in text transmission; for voice communication, mayday is used. The sequence is normally transmitted run together without any letter spacing in between, so it is technically a single unique code rather than a series of three letters.

Synonyms

• mayday

See also

• pan-pan

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English

Wikipedia

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈɛs.əʊˌɛs/, X-SAMPA: /"Es.@U.Es/

Etymology 1

Wikipedia

From the letters represented by the signal, chosen as a sequence that is easy to recall and transmit (· · · — — — · · ·); it is not, as is commonly believed, an abbreviation for "save our souls", "save our ship" or any other phrase.

Noun

SOS (plural SOS's)

1. The conventional Morse code call made by a ship in distress.

   The keel has been scuppered — send out an SOS.

See also

• mayday
• pan-pan

Etymology 2

Initialism

SOS

1. Secretary of State
2. special order sale

Etymology 3

Wikipedia

Noun

SOS (plural SOSes)

1. (games) a children's game involving placing S's and O's on a grid, and collecting points by creating an "SOS" sequence, played with alternating turns by opponents.

See also

• tic tac toe

Anagrams

• OSS
• SSO