navvy

nav·vy

N0036000 (năv′ē)n. pl. nav·vies Chiefly British A laborer, especially one employed in construction or excavation projects.

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[Short for navigator, canal laborer (obsolete).]

navvy

(ˈnævɪ) n, pl -viesinformal Brit a labourer on a building site, excavations, etc[C19: shortened from navigator, builder of a navigation (sense 4)]

nav•vy

(ˈnæv i)

n., pl. -vies. Brit. Informal. an unskilled manual laborer. [1825–35; earlier, a laborer employed in canal excavation; nav(igator) in same sense (compare obsolete or dial. navigation a canal) + -y²]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

navvy - a laborer who is obliged to do menial workpeon, drudge, galley slavelaborer, labourer, manual laborer, jack - someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor

navvy

noun labourer, worker, ganger, workman, manual worker, hand He spent 18 months doing navvy's work on a building site.

Translations

sterratore