What does S.O.S stand for?

Answer 1

SOS is the commonly used description for the International Morse code distress signal (· · · - - - · · · ) This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard when it was included in the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906, and became effective on July 1, 1908.

From the beginning, the SOS distress signal has actually consisted of a continuous sequence of three-dits/three-dahs/three-dits, all run together without letter spacing. In International Morse Code, three dits form the letter S, and three dahs make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dits and dahs. In modern terminology, SOS is a "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to show that there are no internal spaces when it is sent is to write it with a bar above the letters, i.e. .)

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Ship," "Save Our Souls," "Survivors On Ship," "Save Our Sailors" and "Send Out Sailors". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters- something known as a backronym. Other backronyms include Stuck On Site. In reality,the phrase was choosen arbitrarily for its ease of remembering and typing, much like the modern 9-1-1 emergency number.

Answer 2

Strickly speaking S.O.S. means nothing... SOS however is a universal maritime radiotelegraphic distress call. It does not mean save our souls, save our ships or anything else of the kind... it is an unbroken string of morse code easily recongnised. Rarely used today since voice radio communications are the norm, it has been replaced by "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday..."

The following is a quote from an online source:



In 1904, the Marconi company suggested the use of "CQD" for a distress signal. Although generally accepted to mean, "Come Quick Danger," that is not the case. It is a general call, "CQ," followed by "D," meaning distress. A strict interpretation would be "All stations, Distress."

At the second Berlin Radiotelegraphic Conference 1906, the subject of a danger signal was again addressed. Considerable discussion ensued and finally SOS was adopted. The thinking was that three dots, three dashes and three dots could not be misinterpreted. It was to be sent together as one string

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The Marconi Yearbook of Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony , 1918 states, "This signal [SOS] was adopted simply on account of its easy radiation and its unmistakable character. There is no special signification in the letter themselves, and it is entirely incorrect to put full stops between them [the letters]." All the popular interpretations of "SOS," "Save or Ship," "Save Our Souls," or "Send Out Succour" are simply not valid. Stations hearing this distress call were to immediately cease handling traffic until the emergency was over and were likewise bound to answer the distress signal.

Answer 3

SOS is the commonly used description for the International Morse code distress signal (· · · - - - · · · ). This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard when it was included in the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906, and became effective on July 1, 1908.

From the beginning, the SOS distress signal has actually consisted of a continuous sequence of three-dits/three-dahs/three-dits, all run together without letter spacing. In International Morse Code, three dits form the letter S, and three dahs make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dits and dahs. In modern terminology, SOS is a "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to show that there are no internal spaces when it is sent is to write it with a bar above the letters, i.e. .)

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Ship," "Save Our Souls," "Survivors On Ship," "Save Our Sailors" and "Send Out Sailors". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters- something known as a backronym. Other backronyms include Stuck On Site. In reality,the phrase was choosen arbitrarily for its ease of remembering and typing, much like the modern 9-1-1 emergency number.

Answer 4

SOS is the commonly used description for the International Morse code distress signal (· · · - - - · · · ) (listen). This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard when it was included in the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906, and became effective on July 1, 1908.

From the beginning, the SOS distress signal has actually consisted of a continuous sequence of three-dits/three-dahs/three-dits, all run together without letter spacing. In International Morse Code, three dits form the letter S, and three dahs make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dits and dahs. In modern terminology, SOS is a "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to show that there are no internal spaces when it is sent is to write it with a bar above the letters, i.e. .)

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Ship," "Save Our Souls," "Survivors On Ship," "Save Our Sailors" and "Send Out Sailors". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters- something known as a backronym. Other backronyms include Stuck On Site. In reality,the phrase was choosen arbitrarily for its ease of remembering and typing, much like the modern 9-1-1 emergency number.

Answer 5

SOS is the commonly used description for the International Morse code distress signal (· · · - - - · · · ) (listen). This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard when it was included in the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906, and became effective on July 1, 1908.

From the beginning, the SOS distress signal has actually consisted of a continuous sequence of three-dits/three-dahs/three-dits, all run together without letter spacing. In International Morse Code, three dits form the letter S, and three dahs make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dits and dahs. In modern terminology, SOS is a "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to show that there are no internal spaces when it is sent is to write it with a bar above the letters, i.e. .)

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Ship," "Save Our Souls," "Survivors On Ship," "Save Our Sailors" and "Send Out Sailors". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters- something known as a backronym. Other backronyms include Stuck On Site. In reality,the phrase was choosen arbitrarily for its ease of remembering and typing, much like the modern 9-1-1 emergency number.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS

Answer 6

Safety Observation Station
Satellite Observa-System
Save Our Ship
Silicon on Sapphire
Strategic Orbital System
Synchronous Orbit Satellite

Answer 7

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Ship," "Save Our Souls," "Survivors On Ship," "Save Our Sailors" and "Send Out Sailors". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters- something known as a backronym. Other backronyms include Stuck On Site. In reality,the phrase was choosen arbitrarily for its ease of remembering and typing, much like the modern 9-1-1 emergency number.

Answer 8

S.O.S. = Save Our Souls

Answer 9

Save Our Ship

Answer 10

Save Our Ship