navy
[ney-vee]
- the whole body of warships and auxiliaries belonging to a country or ruler.
- (often initial capital letter) the complete body of such warships together with their officers and enlisted personnel, equipment, yards, etc., constituting the sea power of a nation.
- (often initial capital letter) the department of government charged with its management.
- navy blue.
- Archaic. a fleet of ships.
Origin of navy
1300–50; Middle English navie < Middle French < Vulgar Latin *navia, equivalent to Latin nāv(is) ship + -ia -y3
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for navies
Contemporary Examples
When two navies came together, it was a collision, followed by boarding and a desperate, bloody fight at close quarters.
We are not dealing with nation states competing with each other in a fairly orderly way with armies, navies and air forces.
Historical Examples
It is associated with armies and navies, and an unlimited police force.
The Hunted OutlawAnonymous
This chapter will review the navies as they gather for action.
Jails and penitentiaries and armies and navies are not our best defence.
The Wedding RingT. De Witt Talmage
The latter is the form used in the American and British navies.
The power of navies was therefore, then as now, but little understood.
Admiral FarragutA. T. Mahan
navy
- the warships and auxiliary vessels of a nation or ruler
- the navy (often capital) the branch of a country's armed services comprising such ships, their crews, and all their supporting services and equipment
- short for navy blue
- archaic, or literary a fleet of ships
- (as modifier)a navy custom
Word Origin
C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin nāvia (unattested) ship, from Latin nāvis ship
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for navies
navy
n.
early 14c., "fleet of ships, especially for purposes of war," from Old French navie "fleet, ship," from Latin navigia, plural of navigium "vessel, boat," from navis "ship" (see naval). Meaning "a nation's collective, organized sea power" is from 1530s. The Old English words were sciphere (usually of Viking invaders) and scipfierd (usually of the home defenses). Navy blue was the color of the British naval uniform. Navy bean attested from 1856, so called because they were grown to be used by the Navy.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper