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Glite Dictionary
Count Fleet

Count Fleet

1 9.1
An American racehorse famous for winning the Triple Crown in 1943
  • proper noun
  • US
: Count Fleet
  • Count Fleet dominated the racing season and claimed the Triple Crown in 1943.

Examples

  • Count Fleet was a champion!

  • In 1943, Count Fleet won the Triple Crown.

  • After retiring from racing, Count Fleet had a successful career as a sire.

  • Many enthusiasts consider Count Fleet one of the greatest racehorses in American history.

  • His greatest horse was Count Fleet, the Thoroughbred that won the Triple Crown in 1943.

  • In 1943, Count Fleet emerged as a champion by winning the prestigious Triple Crown.

  • The story of Count Fleet remains legendary among Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts today.

Surface Forms

Count Fleet main

Morphology

count + Fleet

This is a proper name for a specific racehorse, and the literal meanings of 'count' (a nobleman) and 'fleet' (a group of ships or undefined here) do not allow a B1 learner to infer that the phrase refers to a Thoroughbred or a Triple Crown winner. Proper names are largely arbitrary and language-specific, so the referent must be learned rather than composed from the parts.

Etymology

Count Fleet is a famous racehorse whose name gives a clear picture: Count suggests a noble title and Fleet means fast. He won the 'Triple Crown' in 1943, so the name helps you remember he was a top, fast American racehorse.