NAVY


Meaning of NAVY in English

ˈnāvē, -vi noun

( plural navies ; see sense 4 )

Usage: often attributive

Etymology: Middle English navie, from Middle French, from Latin navigia, plural of navigium ship, from navigare to navigate

1. : the ships of one nation or owner or gathering : fleet

the country's merchant navy

2. : the war vessels belonging to a nation composed formerly chiefly of ships of the line, frigates, and gun vessels and in modern times of warships (as aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, command ships, destroyers and submarines), amphibious ships (as attack transports and attack cargo ships), patrol vessels (as escort vessels and gunboats), mine warfare vessels (as minelayers and minesweepers), and logistic support vessels (as tenders, tankers, repair ships and ammunition ships)

3. often capitalized : the complete military organization of a nation for sea warfare including yards, shops, stations, men, ships, offices, and officers : the naval establishment

4. plural navys : navy blue

5. or navy plug : a strong dark plug tobacco

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.