what is sos?

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 write it with a bar above the letters, i.e. SOS.

In popular usage, SOS became associated with phrases such as "Save Our Souls," "Save Our Shelby," "Shoot Our Ship", "Sinking Our Ship", "Survivors On Shore","Save our skulls", "Save Our Ship", "Sink Our Ships", "Survivors On Ship", "Save Our Sailors", "Stop Other Signals", "Sink Or Swim", "Send Out Sailors", "Save Our Skins", and "Send Out Someone". However, these phrases were a later development, most likely used to help remember the correct letters—something known as a backronym.

2007-09-28 21:05:46 · answer #1 · answered by mooncalf22 2 · 8⤊ 1⤋

it particularly is a valuable poem and this talks approximately misery. With a ship misplaced at sea so ought to human beings. SOS it particularly is a misery sign human beings out at sea call while there is hassle. perchance the boat is approximately to sink or there could properly be a collision. Mayday could be used yet another word for SOS save our souls, or save our deliver

2017-01-02 19:34:26 · answer #2 · answered by sievert 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋

The letters mean nothing, it is just that dot, dot, dot, dash, dash, dash, dot, dot, dot is the easiest and simplest combination of Morse code to send in case of an emergency. Before the Titanic the call was CQD, which meant from the code book All Vessels Distress, followed by the call sign of the vessel in distress.

2007-10-02 09:56:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋

Sorry, but you're all wrong. S.O.S. is actually a sanitised version stemming from the original Morse acronym S.A. meaning "Save @rseholes". First used by Rear Admiral Bendengrabit to rescue shipwrecked enemy sailors, whom he would "interrogate" personally. The first true distress signal acronym was O.B.I.D. simply meaning: "Oh Bollox I'm Drowning".
Why does nobody believe me?

2007-10-01 11:06:51 · answer #4 · answered by Spondooliks 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋

A distress message Usually sent in Morse Code....Save our Souls. Modern version is Mayday....Anglicised version of the French M'aidez Help me.

2007-09-28 21:08:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋

mooncalf has a pretty extinsive answer, which will probably be your best choice for BA (I thumbed up )
In addition:
I was in the Navy, and we had a S.O.S. breakfast which meant SH-- on a Shingle, it consisted of creamed beef on toast. Actually it was pretty good.

2007-09-30 03:38:44 · answer #6 · answered by MR. T. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋

The original distress call for a ship in trouble was CQ CQ this stood for "come quickly" "come Quickly". This was replaced ( ironically ) just about the time of the titanic sinking with the current distress call of "sos' which stands for "save our souls" Although some people interpret it as "save our ship"

2007-09-29 09:02:27 · answer #7 · answered by randy 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋

It's a call for help. Save our souls.

2007-09-28 22:12:18 · answer #8 · answered by Forgetmenotshell 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋

its an old saying from many many years ago that they used if they needed help, it means Save Our Souls

2007-09-28 21:06:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋

Save
Our
Souls

(It means help us.)

2007-09-28 21:05:44 · answer #10 · answered by Vivi 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋

14 answers