different between mayday vs emergency

Translingual

Etymology

From French m'aider, short for Venez m'aider! or Viens m'aider! (“Come help me!”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?me?.de?/

Interjection

mayday

1. (radio) emergency, need assistance
   • 2004, Ken Wishaw, Helicopter Rescue: The true story of Australia's first full-time chopper doctor, page 82

     'Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' came the call.

Usage notes

When making a distress call, mayday is said three times in succession (mayday, mayday, mayday) to signal that the message is an actual distress signal, as opposed to a message about a mayday signal.

Synonyms

• SOS

Translations

The call mayday is the international standard emergency call. However, many local variations also exist.

See also

• pan-pan

English

Alternative forms

• Mayday

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?me?.de?/
• Rhymes: -e?de?

Noun

mayday (plural maydays)

1. An international distress signal used by shipping and aircraft.
   • 2002, Clive Cussler, Valhalla Rising, page 47

     "Odd that she hasn't sent out a Mayday."
     "That is curious. Her radio must be disabled."

Related terms

• distress signal

Translations

See also

• pan-pan
• SOS

English

Alternative forms

• emergence (archaic)

Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin emergentia, from Latin emergens, present participle of emergo, equivalent to emergent +? -cy or emerge +? -ency.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??m?.d??n.si/
• Hyphenation: e?mer?gen?cy
• Rhymes: -??(?)d??nsi

Noun

emergency (plural emergencies)

1. A situation which poses an immediate risk and which requires urgent attention.

   Cardiac arrest is an emergency and if you find someone in cardiac arrest you should call 999 immediately.

2. The department of a hospital that treats emergencies.
3. An individual brought in at short notice to replace a member of staff, a player in a sporting team, etc.
   • November 2 2014, Daniel Taylor, "Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk

     Van Gaal responded by replacing Adnan Januzaj with Carrick and, in fairness, the emergency centre-half did exceedingly well given that he has not played since May.

4. (archaic) The quality of being emergent; sudden or unexpected appearance; an unforeseen occurrence.

Synonyms

• (hospital department): ER, casualty, emerg

Related terms

• emerge
• emergence

Translations

Derived terms

See also

• fire department
• police