Question Asked: What Does SOS Stand For?
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Dec 3rd, 2008 |
SOS, often used in Morse code, or smoke signals, is commonly mis-explained as meaning “Save Our Ship,” which it does not actually stand for.
You’ll also see SOS referred to as S.O.S., which also is not correct. The phrase SOS isn’t an acronym at all. SOS is a distress call used to signify that a marine vessel was signaling MAYDAY.
SOS originated with the use of Morse code by the Navy, back in August 1909. They selected SOS to use as a distress call because of two reasons: a) it was the easiest to type out in Morse code, and b) it’s unmistakable when heard. The majority of the population of the United States can recognize SOS in Morse code, but little (to nothing) else.
The first recorded use of SOS was when T. D. Haubner of the SS Arapahoe radioed for help when his ship was going down near Diamond Shoals in the Atlantic Ocean.
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