Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. An international radiotelephone signal word used by aircraft and ships in distress.
Wiktionary
- interj. emergency, need assistance
- n. An international distress signal used by shipping and aircraft
WordNet 3.0
- n. an internationally recognized distress signal via radiotelephone (from the French m'aider)
Etymologies
- From French m'aider (short for « Venez m'aider ! », "Come help me!"). (Wiktionary)
- From French (venez) m'aider, (come) help me!. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“At about 1648 hours, the U.S. Air Force airborne command post, Hillsborough, received a mayday from the two OV1 aircraft, and dispatched two FACs in the area for an immediate search for the two downed air crews.”
“At about 1648 hours, the U.S. Air Force airborne command post, Hillsborough, received a mayday from the two OV1 aircraft, and dispatched two FAC in the area for an immediate search for the two downed air crews.”
“When Frank was valiantly landing the plane (he's proven time and time again he's a damn good pilot), his doomed co-pilot was calling mayday and the only response he got was the transmission of 4-8-15-16-23-42.”
“We also expressed regret that although our pilot called mayday, that that message was not received at the military base on Hainan Island, therefore, we landed technically without clearance and we were sorry there was that failure of communication.”
“Bennett called the mayday and manually ejected the pilot, who had blacked out and then bailed out himself.”
“Air Force records indicate that Bennett called the mayday and manually ejected”
“Officials say firefighters were searching the building when they heard Bowen call "mayday" on his radio.”
“You are doubtless aware that Mr Bloomfield gave up to us, for a certain consideration, one fourth share of the 'mayday', and that afterward he sold us for £100 another fourth and half of Hazelwood”
“This pattern is from Jen at MOMSPatterns, who is also having a quick sale: Save 25% off your orders with MOMSPatterns Friday, Saturday & Sunday only using coupon code 'mayday'.”
“The captain tried to transmit a "mayday" call but the radio was inoperative.”
The Wall Street Journal: Disappearance Triggers Many Questions, but Few Answers
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘mayday’.
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My Little Phonies
Names for the next generation of My Little Ponies. Inspired by Star's list.
juggernaught, flamboyant, cuddly maggot, astrobleme, agroof, windburn, poshlost, crucifer, feedbag, dunderwhelp, nebelwerfer, bliss ninny and 453 more...
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Daze days
washday, doomsday, heyday, workaday, payday, everyday, holiday, holy day, holyday, playday, birthday, rudmasday and 39 more...
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Uncalendared
I can't find these on my calendar.
Christmas in July, eight days a week, Rocktober, Roctober, Caturday, mayday, Funday, A Hard Day's Night, Ruby Tuesday, Sheffield Wednesday, June Mountain, Bloody Sunday and 28 more...
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Three Sheets to the Wind
Common words or phrases of nautical origin that have taken on different or metaphorical meanings. Chained_bear and I tossed a coin over who would make the list. I won (or lost, depending on how you...
scuttlebutt, taken aback, brass monkey, boot camp, clean bill of health, three sheets to t..., the devil to pay, between the devil..., by and large, the whole nine yards, mind your ps and qs, slush fund and 116 more...
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Double diphthongs, etc.
Words with repeated diphthongs or other pairs of vowels, with no other vowels.
aeae, aiai, aoao, auau, ayay, eaea, eiei, eoeo, eueu, eyey, iaia, ieie, ioio, iuiu, oaoa, oeoe, oioi, ouo...chaetae, airmail, gainsaid, hairbrain, hairtail, jailbait, maimai, mainsail, maintain, zaikai, chainmail, braindrain and 201 more...
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Words I like and know of their meanin...
zenith, anathema, maelstrom, sardonic, juxtapose, belladonna, facade, rigor mortis, fiasco, chimera, gallivant, archaic and 64 more...
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of little to no importance
clique, echo, bitters, thunderstorm, summertime, gams, mayday, chopsticks, loose leaf, homemade, curl, between and 13 more...
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Saien's Words
tiansheng lizhi, qingguo qingcheng, nuance, exquisite, saien, shizhe rusi, honglou meng, 天上人間, �?�味, 太上忘情, gottfried, orpheus and 41 more...
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Words that amuse me with their meanin...
scalawag, google, shenanigans, angst, anime, parlay, banzai, sesquipedalian, hornswoggle, balderdash, cockamamie, fiddlesticks and 25 more...
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M is for Miss Scarlet
My M Words
macaroni, mad hatter, madcap, malarkey, margarita, marmalade, maverick, mekka-lekka hi me..., minx, miss scarlet, mister, mister splashy pants and 80 more...
Tweets
Looking for tweets for mayday.

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