mayday
The origin and history of mayday.
Etymology
Coined in the 1920s by a radio officer at Croydon Airport, based on the French phrase "venez m'aider" ("come help me"), shortened to "m'aider" and respelled "mayday" for clear radio pronunciation.
Class of 1920
mayday first entered the language around 1920. Other words from the same year:
See the full Class of 1920 →