I've heard that it means save our souls, but i also heard that it meant save our ship back in earlier times when all they really cared about was their ships.
2007-01-03 11:12:04 · 19 answers · asked by ♥...Muah...♥ 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
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.
2007-01-03 11:17:07 · answer #1 · answered by leahivan 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Save Our Ship
2007-01-03 11:21:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Save Our Ship
2007-01-03 11:14:56 · answer #3 · answered by Jeff 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simple answer:
Contrary to popular notion, the letters SOS do not stand for "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls". They were selected to indicate a distress because, in Morse code, these letters and their combination create an unmistakeable sound pattern.
2007-01-03 11:19:22 · answer #4 · answered by A: Ken 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sos means some one sing or save are souls or ships our ships or help
2007-01-03 11:19:14 · answer #5 · answered by huskey luvr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's definitely "save our souls". You don't have to be on a ship to use it. It's the universal code for we're in big trouble, and it shouldn't be used unless it's a matter of life or death.
2007-01-03 11:18:53 · answer #6 · answered by sinned 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means Save Our Ship, they use it cause in morse code it is easy to remember 3 dashes, 3 dots, 3 dashes.
2007-01-03 11:16:37 · answer #7 · answered by John P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Save Our Ship. It was a distress call.
2007-01-03 11:15:47 · answer #8 · answered by amylynn25 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
SOS means send help. It is the distress signal used in Morse code.SOS" does not stand for "Save Our Souls" or "Save Our Ship." SOS is given to the distress signal because it was easy to remember. You can find more about it at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS
2007-01-03 11:17:03 · answer #9 · answered by AmandaAmandaAmandaAmandaAmanda19 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it used to mean save our ship and might still. now people basically refer to it as a sign of help. for example in the song SOS by rihanna.
2007-01-03 11:15:59 · answer #10 · answered by me 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋