Secret codes, decoded

Why pilots say “roger” and 9 other unspoken coded messages

Every line of work has its own secret language. Pilots, nurses, actors, filmmakers, and sailors all use words and signals that mean something very specific to insiders. If you’re an outsider overhearing them, you probably wonder, "What the heck is going on?" Some of these terms are technical, some are funny, and some are just plain absurd. Take why pilots say "Roger" when they don’t mean "yes," or what "S.O.S." really stands for (spoiler: it doesn’t stand for anything). Let’s decode 10 of them.

"Roger" doesn’t mean yes; it means "message received." Early radio operators spelled out letters with code words so garbled static wouldn’t ruin things, and the word for R was "Roger." R stood for "received," so the name stuck. The alphabet changed in 1957, and R became "Romeo," but "Roger" lived on like an old uncle at Thanksgiving. Civilians never learn it because most of us have never radioed a tower.

Surprise: it doesn’t stand for anything. "Save Our Souls" is a catchy myth invented later. In Morse code, S is three dots, and O is three dashes, so the signal is just three dots, three dashes, three dots. It was adopted at a radio conference in Berlin in 1906, took effect in 1908, and was easy to send and hard to mistake. The Titanic famously used it in 1912. Since it isn’t an acronym, those periods in "S.O.S." are technically incorrect.

Imagine a hospital full of patients on oxygen, in surgery, or unable to walk, and then somebody shouts "FIRE!" That’s a recipe for panic. So hospitals use color codes: Code Red means fire, Code Blue means a patient needs resuscitation, and so on. Hospitals began adopting codes in the 1960s, and they still differ from state to state. Patients are often left confused, which is rather the point.

If you hear "Code Adam" over a store speaker, a child is missing. Staff lock the doors and search. It’s named for Adam Walsh, a six-year-old who vanished from a Sears store in Hollywood, Florida, in 1981. Walmart introduced the program in 1994, and many other stores followed. Stores use a code instead of a plain announcement so a possible abductor doesn’t panic and bolt.

That graceful sweep of the hands isn’t flight attendant theater. Federal rules require airlines to show passengers where the exits are, and the open-palm, arm-sweeping gesture makes the pointing clear and unmistakable, even in a noisy, crowded cabin. It dates back to the early days of commercial jets in the 1950s and ’60s. Most of us tune it out, usually while hunting for the little bag of pretzels.

Nothing to do with the May 1st holiday. In 1923, it was hard to make out the letter "S" over radio telephone, so "S.O.S." was swapped for "mayday" on cross-channel flights between Britain and France. The word sounds like the French "m’aidez," meaning "help me." It was made the official voice distress call in 1927. Saying it three times keeps it from being mistaken for a message that merely mentions it. Most of us only hear it in movies.

Even though there’s no single worldwide rule, ships do use dim red or blue lighting in some areas at night so crews keep their night vision when they step out on deck, and on European rivers a blue light can flag dangerous cargo. Cruise lines also use soft lighting for ambiance. Naturally, passengers rarely hear about any of it because ship rules are written for crews, not vacationers.

Hand gestures don’t mean the same thing everywhere. Arrests are actually rare, but real trouble is possible. The "thumbs up" is rude in parts of the Middle East. The "OK" sign is an insult in Brazil and a few other countries. In Greece, an open palm shoved toward someone’s face, called the "moutza," is a serious insult dating back to Byzantine times. Americans stumble into this because we assume our gestures are universal. They aren’t.

Actors consider it bad luck to wish each other luck, so they wish a little disaster instead. Nobody agrees on the origin. One theory says performers who bowed or took curtain calls were literally "breaking the leg" of the stage curtain. Another points to German pilots in the 1930s saying "neck and leg break." Either way, it’s an old theater superstition. If you say "good luck" backstage, expect some glares.

On a movie or TV set, "martini shot" means the last setup of the day. The name is supposedly a joke that the next shot will be out of a glass. Its sidekick is the "Abby Singer," the second-to-last shot. It’s named after an assistant director who would call out "this, and one more" so the crew could prepare to move to the next set.

OBSCURE FASHION

10 Clothing Items from History That Have Faded into Fashion Oblivion

Image: Library of Congress

Fashion is likely the most dynamic realm of human culture, constantly evolving with time. While some trends endure, others soon fade into obscurity, leaving behind fascinating relics of bygone eras. In this article, we will delve into the annals of fashion history to unearth 10 intriguing clothing items that have largely vanished from modern wardrobes.

Image: Marieke Kuijjer, CC BY-SA 2.0

Crakowes, or poulaines, were long, exaggeratedly pointed shoes worn in the 15th century. These shoes were a symbol of status among the European elite, particularly in Poland and England. They featured long, pointed tips that often had to be tied to the wearer's legs to prevent tripping, an impractical feature that arguably showed that the wearer lived a life of leisure.

Image: Zdeněk Macháček

Zibellini, also known as flea furs, were small women's fashion accessories popular in the late Middle Ages. These strange clothing items consisted of the furs of small animals, such as minks or martens, and could be used hanging from the neck or just carried in the hands. Some zibellini were even fitted with jeweled adornments resembling the head of the animal.

Image: Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, Public Domain

Farthingales were stiff, hoop-like structures worn under skirts during the Renaissance period to create a wide, bell-shaped silhouette. Made of whalebone or steel, these undergarments were markers of status and wealth and thus were common among court women. They eventually fell out of favor as fashion shifted towards slimmer silhouettes.

Image: Викидим, CC BY-SA 4.0

Who said platform shoes are a recent invention? Chopines were a type of platform shoes worn by women in the 15th to 17th centuries, primarily in Venice and Spain. The elevated footwear, sometimes reaching heights of up to 20 inches, was designed to protect the wearer's feet from mud and filth on the streets. However, their obvious impracticality led to their eventual decline in popularity.

Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0

A smaller version of farthingales, crinolines were stiffened petticoats made of horsehair or steel hoops, worn in the mid-19th century to support wide skirts. These undergarments revolutionized fashion by allowing women to achieve voluminous skirts without the weight and discomfort of multiple layers of fabric. However, concerns about flammability hazards at a time when candle lighting and fireplaces were common contributed to their decline.

Image: jean-louis zimmermann, CC BY 2.0

Fichus were lightweight scarves or shawls worn around the neck and shoulders in the 19th century. These accessories were often elaborately embroidered or trimmed with lace and were considered essential for completing a lady's ensemble. While fichus added elegance to an outfit, they gradually fell out of favor as simpler and more practical clothing styles became popular.

Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0

A shortening of "spatterdashes," spats were fabric or leather coverings worn over shoes and ankles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Originally designed to protect footwear from dirt and damage, spats evolved into a fashionable accessory for men, particularly in formal attire. However, as shoes became more durable and styles shifted, spats gradually lost their popularity.

Image: Marie-Lan Nguyen (Jastrow), CC BY 2.5

Bicornes were a type of hat worn by men in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Characterized by their distinctive two-pointed shape, bicornes were mostly associated with military uniforms during this period, often worn by army and naval officers. However, with the decline of formal headwear, bicornes gradually disappeared from everyday attire.

Image: Johannes Verspronck, Public domain

Yes, ruffs are those things that made people look just like a dog that has been taken to the vet. These elaborate collars were worn around the neck in the Renaissance and early modern periods. Made of starched linen or lace, they were often a symbol of wealth and status. As with many items on this list, as fashion evolved toward simpler styles, ruffs gradually fell out of favor and were replaced by more understated—and practical—neckwear.

Image: Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0

Snoods were a type of hairnet worn to confine and adorn women's hair during the medieval and Renaissance periods. These functional accessories were often embellished with jewels or embroidery, adding a touch of elegance to hairstyles. However, as hairstyles became more elaborate and varied in later periods, snoods gradually lost their usefulness and prominence.