1. [Brit, informal] A labourer who is obliged to do menial work
   "The navvy toiled in the fields from dawn to dusk";
   - drudge, peon [N. Amer], galley slave [informal]
    
2. (historical) a labourer employed in the construction of roads, railways, canals or similar earthworks
   "Irish navvies helped build Britain's railway system"

Derived forms: navvies

Type of: jack, laborer [US], labourer [Brit, Cdn], manual laborer [US], manual labourer [Brit, Cdn]

Encyclopedia: Navvy