David Glasgow Farragut

1 9.6

An American navy admiral who led Union naval forces in the Civil War

proper noun
/ˈdeɪvɪd ˈɡlæsɡoʊ ˈfɛrɪɡət/

: David Glasgow Farragut

David Glasgow Farragut is famous for saying, 'Damn the torpedoes!'

Examples

Admiral David Glasgow Farragut became famous for his decisive actions during the Battle of Mobile Bay.
Many historians regard David Glasgow Farragut as one of the greatest naval commanders in American history.
A statue of David Glasgow Farragut can be found in Washington, D.C.'s Farragut Square.
Admiral David Glasgow Farragut played a crucial role in the Civil War.
A statue of David Glasgow Farragut can be found in Washington, D.C.'s Farragut Square.
Many historians regard David Glasgow Farragut as one of the greatest naval commanders in American history.
Admiral David Glasgow Farragut became famous for his decisive actions during the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Surface Forms

David Glasgow Farragut main

Morphology

David + Glasgow + Farragut

This is a proper name composed of three personal/place names; knowing the words 'David', 'Glasgow' and 'Farragut' does not allow a learner to infer that the phrase denotes a 19th-century U.S. admiral or his Civil War role. Proper names are referential and require world/encyclopedic knowledge rather than compositional semantic inference, so the meaning is not derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

David Glasgow Farragut belongs to a United States admiral from the Civil War who is famous for one bold order. At the Battle of Mobile Bay he saw enemy explosives in the water called 'torpedoes' and shouted 'Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!' to push his ships through. That's why people remember him as a brave navy leader.