CQD

What Does CQD Mean?

CQD means "All Stations: Distress" and "Come Quick Danger." Here is more information about each of these definitions of CQD.

The abbreviation CQD was a message sent in Morse code with the meaning "All Stations: Distress." It was subsequently (and erroneously) widely believed to mean "Come Quick Danger."

In Morse code, the letters CQ are sent to indicate that a message is intended for all stations and D is used to indicate that a message is urgent. In 1904, it was suggested that C Q D (with spaces, i.e., -.-. --.- -..) be adopted as a distress signal by ships, to be sent in the event that a vessel required immediate assistance.

This use of C Q D was widely, but not universally, taken up. At the International Radiotelegraphic Convention, held in Berlin in 1906, the now universally recognized SOS (no spaces) was adopted as the international distress signal.

Image for CQD

When I write CQD, I mean this:

"All Stations: Distress"

Summary of Key Points for the First Definition

"All Stations: Distress" is the official definition for CQD.

CQD
Definition:	All Stations: Distress
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Specialists

Summary of Key Points for the Second Definition

"Come Quick Danger" is an unofficial definition for CQD.

CQD
Definition:	Come Quick Danger
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Specialists

Example of CQD Used in a Text

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