ten-four
ten-four
UK[ˌten ˈfɔː]US[ˌten ˈfɔːr]
interj
A radio code used to acknowledge a message or indicate understanding, equivalent to "message received" or "OK".
n
An instance of using this code.
Etymology
The term originates from the "Ten-code" or "10-code" system developed for radio communication by the Illinois State Police in the late 1930s. The specific code "10-4" was designated to mean "acknowledgment" or "OK" to ensure clarity and brevity over potentially noisy radio channels. Its popularization in wider culture is heavily attributed to the 1970s television show "CB Bears" and the subsequent trucker/citizens' band radio craze. The literal combination of the common numerals evolved into a fixed lexical item representing confirmation and understanding.
Analysis
This is a simplex code formed from the English numerals "ten" and "four".
Examples
The trucker responded with a quick "ten-four" to confirm he received the directions.
"Ten-four, base, we are proceeding to the coordinates," the officer said over the radio.
In casual conversation, he sometimes says "ten-four" instead of "okay" as a habit from his old job.