navvy /ˈnævi/noun 2verb 1forms 3 noun2 •an unskilled laborer •(UK, historical) A laborer on a civil engineering project such as a canal or railroad.His proper trade's a navvy; and he works at it sometimes too—for exercise—and earns good money at it. — 1912 verb1 •(UK) 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. — 1974 formsnavvied · navvying · navvies
