distress call

noun

1. a prearranged communication code sign indicating that the sender is in a situation of peril, distress, or the like, as SOS, Mayday, etc. Compare distress signal ( def 1 ).
2. a communication prompted by or indicating distress:

   The hospital sent out distress calls for all available stocks of the antitoxin.

Word History and Origins

Origin of distress call¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Sir Arthur changed course of the Carpathia, which was on its way from New York for Europe, after the ship's wireless operator picked up the distress call "we've struck ice, come at once".

From BBC

The small boat started to flood on 10 November, causing the passengers to launch a distress call to the US Coast Guard, which then issued an emergency of its own.

From BBC

The Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol received a distress call just after 1 p.m. reporting a boat had overturned and the people on board were in the water clinging to it.

From Los Angeles Times

But recently the firm has stirred up controversy stating its desire to retrieve an object from the ship itself - the Marconi radio equipment which transmitted the Titanic’s distress calls on the night of the sinking.

From BBC

On Saturday, the Verbena’s remaining crew issued a distress call saying they were abandoning ship because they were unable to bring the fires under control.

From BBC