Sailor's distress signal Crossword Clue

Today's (30 June 2024) crossword provided to us by The Washington Post Sunday and the clue is "Sailor's distress signal".
The right answer or rather the best answer listed below:

Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle

The answer for today's clue "Sailor's distress signal" is SOS. Let's delve into why this answer fits the clue perfectly:

1. International Distress Signal: SOS is a well-known distress signal used internationally to call for help in emergency situations, especially by sailors in distress at sea.
2. Morse Code Representation: SOS is represented in Morse code as "... --- ..." which is a quick and easily recognizable signal, making it particularly useful for urgent situations where immediate assistance is needed.
3. Historical Significance: The use of SOS as a distress signal dates back to the early 20th century, with its adoption due to its simplicity and effectiveness in communicating a need for help.
4. Commonly Associated with Nautical Themes: In popular culture and maritime history, SOS is closely associated with sailors and ships, making it a fitting answer for the clue related to a sailor's distress signal.

Overall, the answer "SOS" aligns perfectly with the clue "Sailor's distress signal" due to its universal recognition as a call for help, its historical significance, and its association with maritime distress situations.

Definition of "SOS"

an international code signal of extreme distress, used especially by ships at sea

Example :

they put out an SOS that they were on fire

I'd thought of phoning a desperate SOS to James

here is an SOS message for Mr Arthur Brown about his brother, who is dangerously ill

 The Crossword clue "Sailor's distress signal" published 10 time/s & has 1 answer/s. 

Crossword	Date	Answer
The Washington Post Sunday	30 June 2024	SOS
Newsday.com	21 February 2022	SOS
Crosswords With Friends	26 December 2021	SOS
USA Today	31 October 2021	SOS
Daily Celebrity	12 June 2017	SOS
L.A. Times Daily	2 September 2014	SOS