noun
navvy
Navvy (noun) means someone who does heavy manual work building things such as canals or railways.
noun
1
Someone who does heavy manual work building things such as canals or railways.
"His proper trade's a navvy; and he works at it sometimes too—for exercise—and earns good money at it."
— George Bernard Shaw, Pygmalion (1912)
2
Someone doing manual work that needs no particular training.
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Etymology
Shortened from navigator, referring to the navigation canals these workers first dug, plus -y.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for navvy
See all rhymes for navvy →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of navvy?
"navvy" (noun) means someone who does heavy manual work building things such as canals or railways.
What is another word for navvy?
Other words for "navvy" include drudge, peon.
What are the different meanings of navvy?
"navvy" has 2 main meanings: 1. Someone who does heavy manual work building things such as canals or railways; 2. Someone doing manual work that needs no particular training.
