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dah

dah

1 9.9
A long signal in Morse code shown by a dash
  • noun
  • /dɑː/
  • Specialized
translation icon : guion
  • To send the letter A in Morse code, you need to use a short sound, called a dit, followed by a long sound, called a dah.

Examples

  • Each character (letter or numeral) is represented by a unique sequence of dots and dashes that, when translated, relies on intervals of time between dits and dahs, between letters, and between words.

    Blog text (27)
  • Morse code is essentially a way of transmitting telegraphic information through a series of short signals known as dits (represented as dots) and long signals known as dahs (represented as dashes).

    Blog text (27)
  • In Morse code, a dah is represented by a long signal that lasts three times longer than a dit.

  • When learning Morse code, it's important to understand that a dah is used for longer signals, unlike the shorter dit.

Synonyms

dash
vsdah
  • Specialized
3 5.6

A long signal used in Morse code

is the same meaning but is the spoken Morse code name
umpty
vsdah
  • Archaic
9.9

A long signal or dash used in Morse code

is the standard technical term rather than an informal slang

Surface Forms

dah singular
dahs plural

Etymology

Dah is the spoken name for the long signal in Morse code because radio operators pronounced the long sound as 'dah'. Think of it as a spoken dash, so dah means the long dash in Morse code.