navvy etymology

Etymology:

The word "navvy" comes from the late 18th-century term "navigator," which referred to people employed to build canals, roads, and other infrastructure projects.

Meaning:

A navvy is a manual laborer who is employed in the construction or maintenance of roads, railways, canals, or other engineering projects. They typically perform tasks such as excavating, leveling, and laying track.

Origin:

The term "navvy" originated in England around 1780, when it was used to describe laborers who built the Bridgwater Canal. It is believed that the term was derived from the fact that the laborers had to navigate difficult terrain and watercourses in order to complete their work.

Over time, the term "navvy" came to be applied to all manual laborers who worked on infrastructure projects. Navvies played a vital role in the development of Britain's transportation network during the 19th century, and they were also employed on many large-scale projects around the world.

Today, the term "navvy" is still used to refer to manual laborers who work on construction projects, although it is less common than in the past.

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