skivvy

or sciv·vy

[skiv-ee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR skivvy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural skiv·vies. Informal.

Also called skivvy shirt. a man's cotton T-shirt.

skivvies, underwear consisting of cotton T-shirt and shorts.

a thin sweater with a round neck, usually worn over a blouse, turtleneck, or the like.

Origin of skivvy

First recorded in 1925–30; origin uncertain

skivvy

[skiv-ee]British Disparaging.

noun, plural skiv·vies.

a female servant, especially a chambermaid.

verb (used without object), skiv·vied, skiv·vy·ing.

to work as a skivvy.

Origin of skivvy

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. 2019

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

It gets better: he also models the skivvy styles, in all of his ripped soccer star glory.
David Beckham Designs More Underwear, Karlie Kloss Gets A Haircut
The Fashion Beast Team
November 8, 2012

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!
Miss Million's Maid
Bertha Ruck
"I ain't no skivvy," he protests all the time, but every little odd job gets done.
A Diary Without Dates
Enid Bagnold
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

noun plural -vies

mainly British often derogatory a servant, esp a female, who does menial work of all kinds; drudge

verb -vies, -vying or -vied

(intr) British to work as a skivvy

Word Origin for skivvy

C20: of unknown origin

skivvy

noun plural -vies

slang, mainly US a man's T-shirt or vest

(plural) slang, mainly US men's underwear

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