na|vy

na|vy «NAY vee», noun, plural -vies.

1. Often, Navy. all the ships of war of a country, with their officers and men and the department that manages them. Most navies now have aircraft and large land areas devoted to their task of protecting a nation.

2. the officers and men of the navy: »

The parade included many of the navy.

3. the ships and men of the British merchant fleet.

4. Archaic. a fleet of ships.

5. = navy blue. (Cf. ↑navy blue)

╂[< Old French navie, ultimately < Latin nāvis ship]