SOS

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SOS

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

SOS code letters of the international distress signal. The signal is expressed in International Morse code as … — — — … (three dots, three dashes, three dots). This combination was established by the International Radiotelegraphic Convention at Berlin in 1906. The letters (SOS) do not refer to any words but were selected because they are easy to transmit. The use of Morse code for sending distress calls is now superseded by automated systems using satellite relay; the U.S. Coast Guard no longer monitors Morse code transmissions. The distress code by radiotelephony is MAY DAY, which corresponds to the French "m'aider." The signal NC, not followed by a message, also has the same meaning.

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SOS

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

SOS • n. (pl. SOSs) an international code signal of extreme distress, used esp. by ships at sea. ∎  an urgent appeal for help.

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SOS

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | © The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

SOS an international code signal of extreme distress, used especially by ships at sea. The letters were chosen as being easily transmitted and recognized in Morse code; by folk etymology they are taken as an abbreviation of save our souls. The earlier and original distress call for shipping (as used by the Titanic) was CQD.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "SOS." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "SOS." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (November 12, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-SOS.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "SOS." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-SOS.html

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Newspaper article from: U.S. Newswire; 7/24/2009; 700+ words ; ...NATIONAL EDITORS Contact: Heather Paul of SOS Children's Villages, +1-202-253- 3603, hpaul@sos-usa.org Other 2009 Recipients are Greenpeace...July 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SOS Children's Villages, the largest organization...
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International SOS Plays Major Role in Assisting Tsunami Victims and Survivors; Medical and Security Teams on the Ground in Affected Areas Available for Comment.
Business Wire; 1/5/2005; 700+ words ; ...struck Asia on December 26, International SOS, the world's largest medical and security...the region. Crisis management teams at SOS regional Alarm Centers in Singapore, Thailand...requests for assistance to date. More than 70 SOS staff, including more than 30 medical professionals...
International SOS Launches Tsunami Update Website; Site Author and Medical Expert Dr. Doug Quarry Available for Commentary.
Business Wire; 12/29/2004; 700+ words ; ...and other parts of Asia, International SOS has created a specific "Tsunami Update...According to developing reports obtained by SOS, the most affected countries are: Sri...available to both the general public and SOS clients, includes the latest statistics...
International SOS Wins US Department of Defense Contract for Management of Global Remote Overseas Health Care Services.
Business Wire; 2/26/2003; 700+ words ; ...WIRE)--Feb. 26, 2003 International SOS announced today that it has been awarded...expanded contract builds on International SOS service to TRICARE Pacific and Latin America...management services provided by International SOS include: - Cashless and claimless medical...

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