i Register
In some senses, navvy is marked as UK, historical. Watch for register when choosing this word.
navvy
/ˈnævi/
noun 2verb 1
Collocations
2ADJ.
proper
VERB + NAVVY
becomes
Definitions
noun
1
A laborer on a civil engineering project such as a canal or railroad.
Suppose two lads, fresh from school, go out into the world to earn their living; one becomes a navvy and one a clerk. In five years' time these two young men will probably be very different in appearance from one another. The navvy will have developed his muscles; he will be broad-built, broad-chested, and strong.
His proper trade's a navvy; and he works at it sometimes too—for exercise—and earns good money at it.
2
an unskilled laborer
verb
1
To carry out physical labor on a civil engineering project.
But by pretending to believe he's navvied before, I've given him double reason to drive himself hard.
Before my time of navvying I believe the times were still worse.
Thesaurus
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
Suppose two lads, fresh from school, go out into the world to earn their living; one becomes a navvy and one a clerk. In five years' time these two young men will probably be very different in appeara
Wiktionary02
His proper trade's a navvy; and he works at it sometimes too—for exercise—and earns good money at it.
Wiktionary03
The navvies of the Midland Railway toiled for years to build it, enduring grim conditions in shanty towns that were built miles from civilisation. But build it they did, to form part of the Midland's
Wiktionary04
But by pretending to believe he's navvied before, I've given him double reason to drive himself hard.
Wiktionary05
Before my time of navvying I believe the times were still worse.
Wiktionary06
Three terms to use for George Eliot: the feminine imagination and sensibility; Intellect, the capacity for higher navvying; Intelligence.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
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