SOS
Translingual
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editChosen 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
editSOS
Usage notes
editThe 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
editSee also
editEtymology 2
editSymbol
editSOS
English
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editFrom 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
editEtymology 2
editNoun
editSOS
- Initialism of Secretary of State.
- Initialism of special order sale.
Phrase
editSOS
- (colloquial) Initialism of slip on show: a warning to a woman that the underwear she has on can be seen.
Etymology 3
editNoun
editSOS (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
editEtymology 4
editNoun
editSOS (uncountable)
- Initialism of shit on a shingle.
Etymology 5
editPhrase
editSOS
- (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
editJapanese
editEtymology
editPronunciation
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): [e̞sɨo̞ːe̞sɨ]
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
editSwedish
editEtymology 1
editInternationalism. Ultimately from the fact that its morse code is easy to remember. First attested in 1923.[1]
Alternative forms
editNoun
editSOS ?
- SOS, international telegraphic distress signal
Derived terms
edit- SOS-nummer (“emergency number”)
- SOS-signal (“SOS signal”)
Etymology 2
editInitialism of smör, ost, sill (“butter, cheese, herring”). Probably humorous in origin, most likely from the distress signal of the same name.
Alternative forms
editNoun
editSOS ?
- 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
editAbbreviation of Sveriges officiella statistik (“Sweden's official statistic”).
Noun
editSOS ?
- a particular collection of systems and processes that produce official statistics about Sweden
Etymology 4
editAbbreviation of Södersjukhuset.
Noun
editSOS ?
Anagrams
editReferences
edit- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Translingual lemmas
- Translingual symbols
- Translingual palindromes
- ISO 4217
- mul:Currency
- English 3-syllable words
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English nouns with irregular plurals
- English palindromes
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with quotations
- English nouns with unknown or uncertain plurals
- English initialisms
- English phrases
- English colloquialisms
- English uncountable nouns
- en:Games
- English verbs
- Commonwealth English
- en:Military
- English terms with historical senses
- Japanese terms borrowed from English
- Japanese terms derived from English
- Japanese terms with IPA pronunciation
- Japanese lemmas
- Japanese nouns
- Japanese terms with multiple readings
- Japanese palindromes
- Japanese terms with usage examples
- Swedish internationalisms
- Swedish lemmas
- Swedish nouns
- Swedish palindromes
- Swedish initialisms
- Swedish abbreviations
- Swedish misspellings