Emily Dickinson Lexicon

NA'VY, n. [L. navis; Gr. ναυς, from νεω, to swim, L. no, nato; Sans. nau; Armenian, naw; Pers. naodan. The elements of the verb are probably Nd, coinciding with Eng. nod, L. nuto. To swim then is to move up and down. Class Nd, No. 3, 9.]

1. A fleet of ships; an assemblage of merchantmen, or as many as sail in company. The navy of Hiram brought gold from Ophir. 1 Kings x.
2. The whole of the ships of war belonging to a nation or king. The navy of Great Britain is the defense of the kingdom and its commerce. This is the usual acceptance of the word.