Morse code (n.)

character encoding system originally invented for use with the telegraph, by 1860, earlier Morse key (1858), so called in honor of Samuel F.B. Morse (1791-1872), U.S. inventor who produced a system of telegraphic communication in 1836. He invented both the recording telegraph and the alphabet of dots and dashes.

also from 1860

Trends of Morse code

adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/. Ngrams are probably unreliable.

More to Explore

POTUS

It is a survival from the Phillips Code, created 1879 by U.S. journalist Walter P....Phillips to speed up (and save money on) Morse code transmissions but obsolete from c. 1940 with the widespread use of teletype...Other Phillips Code survivals include SCOTUS for "Supreme Court of the United States."...

dash

As one of the two Morse code signals from 1859....

SOS

also S.O.S., universal signal of extreme distress, 1910, from International Morse code letters chosen arbitrarily as being...

chivalry

From late 14c. as "the nobility as one of the estates of the realm," also as the word for an ethical code emphasizing honor...Modern use for "social and moral code of medieval feudalism" probably is an 18c. historical revival....

walrus

Old English had horschwæl, and later morse, from Lapp morsa or Finnish mursu, which ultimately might be the source, much...

Salic

"based on or contained in the law code of the Salian Franks," 1540s, from French Salique, from Medieval Latin Salicus, from...The Salic Law, a supposed code of law of the ancient Germanic tribes, was invoked 1316 by Philip V of France to exclude a...

telegraph

Morse (1791-1872). Meaning "telegraphic message" is from 1821. Related: Telegraphy....

key

"instrument for opening locks," Middle English keie, from Old English cæg "metal piece that works a lock, key" literal and figurative ("solution, explanation, one who or that which opens the way or explains"), a word of unknown origin, abnormal evolution, and no sure cognates oth

international

1780, coined by Jeremy Bentham from inter- "between" + national (adj.). In the phrase international jurisprudence. He footnotes the word with: The word international, it must be acknowledged, is a new one; though, it is hoped, sufficiently analogous and intelligible. It is calcu

code

c. 1300, "systematic compilation of laws," from Old French code "system of laws, law-book" (13c.), from Latin codex "systematic classification of statutory law," earlier caudex "book," literally "tree trunk," hence, book made up of wooden tablets covered with wax for writing. De

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updated on February 24, 2019

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