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Definition of davy

davy

/ˈdeɪ.vi/
da · vy
Plural:davies
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davy Lexical Profile

davy Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

British A sworn statement or affidavit, or a solemn oath confirming the truth of an assertion (dated slang).

Example

"The witness promised to take his davy that he had seen the suspect near the docks that evening."

2

A miner's safety lamp in which the flame is enclosed within a fine wire gauze screen to prevent the ignition of flammable gases in coal mines (often capitalized).

Example

"Before descending into the coal shaft, each miner checked the mesh screen on his davy."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for davy

• Rhymes for davy

• Nearby Words

davenport
davies creek
davies creek falls
davy
dawdle
dawdler
dawn

Word Origin & Etymology

In its slang sense meaning an affidavit, the word is an 18th-century aphetic shortening and playful alteration of Latin 'affidavit'. In the sense of a miner's safety lamp, it is an eponym named after the English chemist Sir Humphry Davy, who invented the device in 1815.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Davy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/davy
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