Navvy
noun
A worker, usually a man, who does hard physical work, especially making roads, railways, and canals.
During the Industrial Revolution, many men worked as navvies to construct the railroads.
Often appears as...
- road navvy
- railway navvy
noun
A worker, usually a man, who does hard physical work, especially making roads, railways, and canals.
During the Industrial Revolution, many men worked as navvies to construct the railroads.
Often appears as...
- road navvy
- railway navvy
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Occupation
Navvy is historically linked to major construction projects of the 19th century, like railways.
My great-grandfather was a navvy who helped build the Victorian railways.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Strength
The term 'navvy' connotes physical strength due to the nature of manual labor involved.
You'd have the build of a navvy after a few months of that tough digging work.
Pro Tip 3/3Somewhat Outdated
Although still understood, 'navvy' is less commonly used in modern times, somewhat replaced by 'laborer'.
He worked as a navvy, but these days they just call him a construction worker.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Occupation
Navvy is historically linked to major construction projects of the 19th century, like railways.
My great-grandfather was a navvy who helped build the Victorian railways.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Strength
The term 'navvy' connotes physical strength due to the nature of manual labor involved.
You'd have the build of a navvy after a few months of that tough digging work.
Pro Tip 3/3Somewhat Outdated
Although still understood, 'navvy' is less commonly used in modern times, somewhat replaced by 'laborer'.
He worked as a navvy, but these days they just call him a construction worker.
Pro Tip 1/3Historical Occupation
Navvy is historically linked to major construction projects of the 19th century, like railways.
My great-grandfather was a navvy who helped build the Victorian railways.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Strength
The term 'navvy' connotes physical strength due to the nature of manual labor involved.
You'd have the build of a navvy after a few months of that tough digging work.
Pro Tip 3/3Somewhat Outdated
Although still understood, 'navvy' is less commonly used in modern times, somewhat replaced by 'laborer'.
He worked as a navvy, but these days they just call him a construction worker.
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