What does navvy mean?
Definitions for navvy
ˈnæv inavvy
Here are all the possible meanings and translations of the word navvy.
Princeton's WordNet
drudge, peon, navvy, galley slavenoun
a laborer who is obliged to do menial work
Wiktionary
navvynoun
a laborer on a civil engineering project such as a canal or railroad
Etymology: from the navigation canals upon which these workers first toiled
Webster Dictionary
Navvynoun
originally, a laborer on canals for internal navigation; hence, a laborer on other public works, as in building railroads, embankments, etc
Etymology: [Abbreviated fr. navigator.]
Freebase
Navvy
Navvy, a shorter form of navigator or navigational engineer, is particularly applied to describe the manual labourers working on major civil engineering projects. The term was coined in the late 18th century in Great Britain when numerous canals were being built, which were also sometimes known as "navigations", or "eternal navigations", intended to last forever.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Navvy
nav′i, n. a labourer—originally a labourer on a navigation or canal: a machine for digging out earth, &c.—called also French navvy:—pl. Navv′ies. [A contr. of navigator.]
Etymology and Origins
Navvy
Originally the name of a labourer employed in the construction of canals for inland navigation. An alehouse set up beside one of the earliest canals bore the sign of the “Navigation Inn,” and those who frequented it were called Navigators. This term soon became shortened into Navvies.
Matched Categories
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of navvy in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of navvy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
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Translations for navvy
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"navvy." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2021. Web. 22 Oct. 2021. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/navvy>.
