What is gas ".code" directive?

[Rick Mann]

In the ARM port of freeRTOS there's some assembly like this:

> 	.extern main
> 	.extern exit
> 	.extern AT91F_LowLevelInit
>
> 	.text
> 	.code 32
>
>
> 	.align  0
>
> 	.extern __stack_end__


I'm not sure what .code 32 is. There's no mention of it in the TOC  
for the gas directives.

TIA,
Rick