mayday

may-day · noun, interjection

imported

Definitions

noun, interjection

  1. 1.

    An international radio distress signal used by ships and aircraft when in grave and imminent danger.

  2. 2.

    A distress call or emergency situation requiring immediate assistance.

Forms

plural: maydays

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    declare a mayday — to officially announce an emergency situation
  • •
    mayday call — an emergency distress transmission

Related words

See also: SOS, distress, emergency
Synonyms: SOS, distress signal, emergency call

Etymology

From French m'aidez ("help me"), a phonetic rendering adopted as an international distress signal in 1923. The word was chosen because it could be easily understood across language barriers in radio communications.