dit

Everyday

1. In Morse code, «dit» is the spoken name of a short signal (a dot); «dah» is the long one (a dash). tree →
2. (French) «Dit» is a French word meaning «said» or «says»: «il dit» means «he says», «c'est dit» means «that's settled»; to an English ear it sounds like «dee». tree →
3. (UK navy slang) A dit is a story or yarn, as in «spin a dit». tree →

In the lessons

In science and history lessons on communication, children learn to send Morse code: S is «dit dit dit», O is «dah dah dah», so SOS is «dit dit dit, dah dah dah, dit dit dit». In French lessons «dit» appears in reading: «Le chat dit miaou». It is not a common everyday English word.

Examples

• In Morse code, the letter E is just one dit. tree →
• SOS is dit-dit-dit, dah-dah-dah, dit-dit-dit. tree →
• We tapped dits and dahs on the desk. tree →
• In French, «Maman dit non» means «Mum says no». tree →
• The old sailor spun a dit about a storm at sea. tree →
• A dit is short; a dah is three times as long. tree →

Note

As a Morse word, «dit» is a sound name for a dot, not a dictionary word most people use. The French «dit» is not an English word; the final «t» is silent. In Morse timing, a dah lasts as long as three dits.