2006-12-17 23:06:42 · 12 answers · asked by color me bored 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
I was just reading about it on wikipedia, and it doesn't seem to have stood for anything when it was first used. It was used because of the distinctive, recognizable shape that it had in Morse Code.
Any meaning given to the letters was given after the fact.
2006-12-17 23:32:03 · answer #1 · answered by brickity hussein brack 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nothing
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-dots/three-dashes/three-dots, all run together without letter spacing. In International Morse Code, three dots form the letter S, and three dashes make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the correct order of the dots and dashes. 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. SOS.
In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Ship," "Save Our Souls," "Survivors On Ship," "Save Our Sailors" "Stop Other Signals" 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.
2006-12-18 07:36:53 · answer #2 · answered by Basement Bob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some say it means Save Our Ship, but it was chosen for the rapid fire approach in getting it off the Morse Code.
It has been modified to represent a lot of items (most notable the infamous US Army food of chipped beef on toast), but that is all after the fact
2006-12-18 07:55:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends you mean like a the boating morse code? SOS meant Save our Ship!
SOS in the military is the name of a breakfast food hamburger, onions and black pepper in a white gravy that is really good. (sometimes they use chip beef) but it's translation isn't very.. er.. suitable for print. O means on and the last S mean shingle.
2006-12-18 07:14:55 · answer #4 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Save Our Ship.
2006-12-18 07:22:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a distress signal meaning Save Our Souls. It is supposed to be used in life-threatening situations.
2006-12-18 07:08:53 · answer #6 · answered by caring_funlovingteacher 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
you really dont know what does SOS mean or you r just asking for the sake of it?
SOS means Save Our Souls
2006-12-18 07:15:56 · answer #7 · answered by rohineygw 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
there are 2 meanings. one was for ships, , or the for runner to MI5, the British CIA, was serve opartons
2006-12-19 15:24:06 · answer #8 · answered by catchup 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A scouring pad or SAVE OUR SHIP!
2006-12-18 08:45:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
save our souls, ship or sailors. stuff like that
2006-12-21 01:33:42 · answer #10 · answered by Shawn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋