navvy
pronunciation
How to pronounce navvy in British English:
UK [ˈnævi]
How to pronounce navvy in American English:
US [ˈnævi]
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- Noun:
- a laborer who is obliged to do menial work
Word Origin
- navvy (n.)
- "laborer on a canal or railroad," 1832, colloquial shortening of navigator (q.v.) in its sense of "one who digs navigation canals."
Example
- 1. His proper trade is a navvy .
- 2. Since the storm was drawing near , the navvy decided to call it a day .