Mayday

1 of 2

communications signal

May·day ˈmā-ˌdā

—used as a distress call in international radio-telephone communications

May Day

2 of 2

ˈmā-ˌdā

: May 1 celebrated as a springtime festival and in some countries as Labor Day

Etymology

Communications signal

French m'aider help me

First Known Use

Communications Signal

1927, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Mayday was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century

Style

“Mayday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mayday. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Mayday

1 of 2

May·day mā-ˈdā

ˈmā-ˌdā

—an international radio signal word used as a distress call

May Day

2 of 2 noun

ˈmā-ˌdā

: May 1 celebrated as a springtime festival and in some countries as Labor Day

Get Word of the Day daily email!