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definitions

skivvy

1

or sciv·vy

[skiv-ee]
See more synonyms for skivvy on Thesaurus.com
noun, plural skiv·vies. Informal.
  1. Also called skivvy shirt. a man's cotton T-shirt.
  2. skivvies, underwear consisting of cotton T-shirt and shorts.
  3. a thin sweater with a round neck, usually worn over a blouse, turtleneck, or the like.

Origin of skivvy

1
First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain

skivvy

2
[skiv-ee]British Disparaging.
noun, plural skiv·vies.
  1. a female servant, especially a chambermaid.
verb (used without object), skiv·vied, skiv·vy·ing.
  1. to work as a skivvy.

Origin of skivvy

2
First recorded in 1910–15; origin uncertain

Usage note

This term is used with disparaging intent, implying the low rank of such a servant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for skivvy

laborer, servant, worker, serf, captive, victim, corset, lingerie, shorts, undergarment, underpants, undershirt, bikini, bra, toil, chattel, help, toiler, vassal, thrall

Examples from the Web for skivvy

Contemporary Examples of skivvy

Historical Examples of skivvy

  • The servant is a servant, a "slavey," a "skivvy," a "Mary Jane."

    The Labour-saving House

    Dorothy Constance Bayliff Peel

  • She that was waiting on you, she's got you to skivvy for her now!

  • "I ain't no skivvy," he protests all the time, but every little odd job gets done.

  • Well, the skivvy won't think of that, and Pomeroy will guess that we're trying to communicate with him.

    The Altar Steps

    Compton MacKenzie

British Dictionary definitions for skivvy

skivvy

1
noun plural -vies
  1. mainly British often derogatory a servant, esp a female, who does menial work of all kinds; drudge
verb -vies, -vying or -vied
  1. (intr) British to work as a skivvy

Word Origin for skivvy

C20: of unknown origin

skivvy

2
noun plural -vies
  1. slang, mainly US a man's T-shirt or vest
  2. (plural) slang, mainly US men's underwear
  3. Australian and NZ a garment resembling a sweater with long sleeves and a polo neck, usually made of stretch cotton or cotton and polyester and worn by either sex

Word Origin for skivvy

of unknown origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012