navy

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The part of a country's armed forces that fights at sea, including its ships and sailors.

   He joined the navy when he was eighteen.

2. 2
   noun

   A very dark blue colour.

   She wore a suit in navy.

3. 3
   adj

   Having a very dark blue colour.

   He bought a navy jacket for the interview.

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”).

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