where does the term "arms like a navvy" come from?

Answer 1

Navvies were the Navigators who cut the Navigations or canals In the 18th and 19th Centuries. Most of this work was done by hand and thus they were very powerful men.Most of the labour was imported from Ireland. It has now gone on to be associated with anybody who digs the roads etc. but originates from the guys who cut the canals, over 2000 miles in England alone, susequently the canal is also known as the cut.

Answer 2

Navvy means Navigator. The original Navvies were in charge of making the navigation channels for barges, and that meant lots of digging... so they had huge arms. And hands like shovels, I bet!!

Answer 3

Navvy, old fashioned term for a labourer. In years gone by they actually had to DIG holes, build railways etc and they were very muscular.

"navvy" is short for navigator, a nickname they were given when they dug canals in the 18th/19th century.

Answer 4

Navvies were expected to shift some 20 tons of earth with a shovel during their working day. thats about it.

Answer 5

a navvy was an irish worker on the canal system in the industrial revolution.
there is a saying that might explain

'navvies, irish born and bred,
thick in the arms, but weak in the head.'

no offence intended.

Answer 6

navvies are Irish workmen digging ditches laying down pipes etc. They built up their arm muscles because of digging all the time and of course they needed the strength to hold all those pints of Guiness they drink!

Answer 7

from navvy

Answer 8

They weren't only men. Women worked on those canals, including Panama, wielding pickaxe and shovel while wearing crinolines! I've seen the pictures.

Answer 9

From the men who built the canals - i.e. navigational labourers, presumably they were muscley. Hope this helps XX

Answer 10

ummmm the navy? lol