SOS
Translingual edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
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 edit
SOS
Usage notes edit
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 edit
See also edit
Etymology 2 edit
Symbol edit
SOS
English edit
Pronunciation edit
Etymology 1 edit
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 edit
- The conventional Morse code call made by a ship in distress.
- The crew sent a frantic SOS as they realised the scale of the disaster.
- 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
- "Look at wireless. Look at the S. O. S. call at sea. Is that not a benefit to mankind?"
See also edit
Etymology 2 edit
Noun edit
SOS
- Initialism of Secretary of State.
- Initialism of special order sale.
Phrase edit
SOS
- (colloquial) Initialism of slip on show: a warning to a woman that the underwear she has on can be seen.
Etymology 3 edit
Noun edit
SOS (uncountable)
- (games) A children's game in which players take turns to place S's and O's on a grid, collecting points by creating an "SOS" sequence.
See also edit
Etymology 4 edit
Noun edit
SOS (uncountable)
- Initialism of shit on a shingle.
Etymology 5 edit
Phrase edit
SOS
- (Commonwealth, military, historical) Initialism of struck off strength or stricken off strength.
- Antonym: TOS
Usage notes edit
- Only used with the past participle, chiefly in historical military records.
Anagrams edit
Japanese edit
Etymology edit
Pronunciation edit
- (Tokyo) エスオーエス [èsúóꜜòèsù] (Nakadaka – [3])[1]
- (Tokyo) エスオーエス [èsúóóéꜜsù] (Nakadaka – [5])[1]
- IPA(key): [e̞sɨᵝo̞ːe̞sɨᵝ]
Noun edit
- SOS (conventional Morse code call made by a ship in distress)
- (by extension) the state of being sought an emergency rescue
- 火星からのSOS
- Kasei kara no esuōesu
- an SOS from Mars
- 火星からのSOS
- silicon on sapphire
References edit
Swedish edit
Etymology 1 edit
Internationalism. Ultimately from the fact that its morse code is easy to remember. First attested in 1923.[1]
Alternative forms edit
Noun edit
SOS ?
- SOS, international telegraphic distress signal
Derived terms edit
- SOS-nummer (“emergency number”)
- SOS-signal (“SOS signal”)
Etymology 2 edit
Initialism of smör, ost, sill (“butter, cheese, herring”). Probably humorous in origin, most likely from the distress signal of the same name.
Alternative forms edit
Noun edit
SOS ?
- A traditional appetizer consisting of butter, cheese, and herring; a smaller version of the brännvinsbord.
Derived terms edit
- SOS-tallrik (“butter, cheese and herring plate”)
Etymology 3 edit
Abbreviation of Sveriges officiella statistik (“Sweden's official statistic”).
Noun edit
SOS ?
- a particular collection of systems and processes that produce official statistics about Sweden
Etymology 4 edit
Abbreviation of Södersjukhuset.
Noun edit
SOS ?