Definitions for navvyˈnæv i
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Random House Webster's College Dictionary
nav•vyˈnæv i(n.)(pl.)-vies.
Brit. Informal.an unskilled manual laborer.
Category: British, Informal
Origin of navvy:
1825–35; earlier, a laborer employed in canal excavation; nav(igator) in same sense (cf. obs. or dial. navigation a canal) + -y2
Princeton's WordNet
drudge, peon, navvy, galley slave(noun)
a laborer who is obliged to do menial work
Wiktionary
navvy(Noun)
a laborer on a civil engineering project such as a canal or railroad
Origin: from the navigation canals upon which these workers first toiled
Webster Dictionary
Navvy(noun)
originally, a laborer on canals for internal navigation; hence, a laborer on other public works, as in building railroads, embankments, etc
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