Lectionary Calendar
Monday, September 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Bible Encyclopedias
Navvy

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Navigation Laws
Next Entry
Navy
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

a labourer employed in the digging and excavating of earth, &c., in the construction of railways, docks, canals or other engineering operations. The word is a shortened form of "navigator," applied during the 18th and early part of the 19th centuries to a labourer at work on canals, to which the name "navigation" is often applied. Power-machines (excavators) for performing such work are consequently known as "steamnavvies."

Bibliography Information
Chisholm, Hugh, General Editor. Entry for 'Navvy'. 1911 Encyclopedia Britanica. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​bri/​n/navvy.html. 1910.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile