interjection / noun
mayday
MAY-day/mˈeɪdeɪ/
An internationally recognized call for urgent help in an emergency.
The person on the sinking boat sends a mayday by radio.
Etymology
The French appeal “help me!” supplied the sound of this distress call. A spoken signal was needed because the S in telegraphic SOS was difficult to hear over early radio.
In context
you want to start that call with mayday mayday mayday the name of your boat and your location
More examples
- Rescuers responded to the mayday immediately.
- The training recording included a clear mayday call.
- The crew repeated mayday over the radio.
Forms
mayday · maydays
Similar words
- distress call
- The broader category.
- SOS
- A different recognized distress signal.