navy

Noun

1. (countable) A country's entire maritime military force, including ships and personnel.
2. (countable) A governmental department in charge of a country's maritime military force.
3. (archaic, countable) Any fleet of maritime vessels, and especially the entire fleet of any particular nationality, including vessels that are commercial, military, or both.
4. (countable, uncountable) A dark blue colour, usually called navy blue.

Adj

1. Having the dark blue colour of navy blue.
2. Belonging to the navy; typical of the navy.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈneɪvi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: nave

Cognate with Ancient Greek: ναῦς

Cognate with Persian: ناو

Cognate with Sanskrit: नाव

Cognate with Old English: nōwend

In summary

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”).

Synonyms

fleet

navy blue

armada

dark blue

naval forces

marine

dark colour

sailor

frogman

marina

army

mariner

midshipman

naval

argosy

admiralty

navy-blue

military navy

seamanship

seascape

ship

🚢

shipping

squadron

Navy

armed forces

naval force

the warships of a nation

n.

ships of logistics support

leisure harbor

flotilla