navy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A country's entire maritime military force, including ships and personnel.

   The skipper Mr. Cooke had hired at Far Harbor was a God-fearing man with a luke warm interest in his new billet and employer, and had only been prevailed upon to take charge of the yacht after the offer of an emolument equal to half a year's sea pay of an ensign in the navy.

2. 2
   adj

   Having the dark blue colour of navy blue.

   The cover is as navy as a bruise.

3. 3
   adj

   Belonging to the navy; typical of the navy.

   […] there are chess ships and checker ships and those where acey-deucey is almost the only game, the sailors' own improved version of backgammon. Fliers from the seacoast of Iowa, anxious to be as navy as the rest, are usually the first to pick it up.

4. 4
   noun

   a dark shade of blue

5. 5
   noun

   an organization of military vessels belonging to a country and available for sea warfare

6. 6
   noun

   A governmental department in charge of a country's maritime military force.

7. 7
   noun

   Any fleet of maritime vessels, and especially the entire fleet of any particular nationality, including vessels that are commercial, military, or both.

8. 8
   noun

   A dark blue colour, usually called navy blue.

Etymology

From Middle English nave, navye, from Anglo-Norman, Old French navie, from Latin nāvigia < nāvigium, from Latin nāvigō, nāvis (“boat”), from Proto-Indo-European *néh₂us. Compare Ancient Greek ναῦς (naûs, “ship”), Persian ناو (nâv, “boat, warship”), Sanskrit नाव (nāva, “ship”), Old English nōwend (“mariner, sailor”). Displaced native Old English sċiphere (literally “ship army”).