Countersign (military)
In
D-Day during World War II: the challenge/sign was "flash", the password "thunder", and the countersign (to challenge the person giving the first code word) "Welcome".[2] Some countersigns include words that are difficult for an enemy to pronounce. For instance, in the above example, the word "thunder" contains a voiceless dental fricative (/θ/)[3] which does not exist in the German language.[4]
In literature
The opening lines of William Shakespeare's play Hamlet are between soldiers on duty are viewed as representing a crude sign, where the line "Long live the King!" was a sign between soldiers:
- Bernardo. Who's there?
- Francisco. Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.
- Bernardo. Long live the King!
- Francisco. Bernardo?
- Bernardo. He.
See also
References
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2008) |
- ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Countersign". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 316.
- ^ D-Day By Jon E. Lewis, Lord Carver, p. 40
- ^ "Definition of THUNDER". www.merriam-webster.com. 2024-01-15. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ISBN 978-0-88133-590-3.
