(intransitive, UK, historical) To carry out physical labor on a civil engineering project.
(intransitive, UK, historical) To carry out physical labor on a civil engineering project.
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(UK, naval, slang, dated) To mess about; to idle instead of working.
(Scotland) A skiff used for fishing.
The British English spelling of 'laboring' — meaning performing hard physical work, or the act of working strenuously. As a noun, 'labouring' refers to the activity of manual work itself. In the context of skilled trades, 'labouring' can also refer to general unskilled physical assistance on a worksite. The '-our' spelling is standard in UK, Australian, and New Zealand English.
an unskilled laborer.
Suppose two lads, fresh from school, go out into the world to earn their living; one becomes a navvy and one a clerk. In five years' time these two young men will probably be very different in appearance from one another. The navvy will …
(chiefly, _, UK, historical) A laborer on a civil engineering project such as a canal or railroad.
Suppose two lads, fresh from school, go out into the world to earn their living; one becomes a navvy and one a clerk. In five years' time these two young men will probably be very different in appearance from one another. The navvy will …