damn the torpedoes

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"damn-the-torpedoes" is a 16-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“damn the torpedoes” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
18
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.

Key facts for damn the torpedoes
PropertyValue
Headworddamn the torpedoes
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters18
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “damn the torpedoes” sits in English frequency

damn the torpedoes falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for damn the torpedoes is 18 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.".

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for damn the torpedoes, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, since no other headword is close enough in sound or shape to pair with it.

Etymologically, the entry records: From "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!", a famous order issued by Admiral David Farragut during the Battle of Mobile Bay, a paraphrase of the actual order, "Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!". The correct English form is damn the torpedoes, spelled D-A-M-N- -T-H-E- -T-O-R-P-E-D-O-E-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.

Etymology

From "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!", a famous order issued by Admiral David Farragut during the Battle of Mobile Bay, a paraphrase of the actual order, "Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!".

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "damn the torpedoes"?
"damn the torpedoes" is spelled D-A-M-N- -T-H-E- -T-O-R-P-E-D-O-E-S.
What does "damn the torpedoes" mean?
As a verb, "damn the torpedoes" means: Used to dismiss the risks of a dangerous action.
What is the origin of the word "damn the torpedoes"?
From "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!", a famous order issued by Admiral David Farragut during the Battle of Mobile Bay, a paraphrase of the actual order, "Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!". See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “damn the torpedoes”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is D-A-M-N- -T-H-E- -T-O-R-P-E-D-O-E-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list