Civy

/ˈsɪvi/ noun

Definition

Variant spelling of 'civvy'; a civilian or non-military person, primarily used in British and Australian English.

Etymology

Alternate spelling of 'civvy,' a shortened form of 'civilian.' Both spellings emerged in military contexts, with 'civvy' being more common.

Kelly Says

The existence of both 'civvy' and 'civy' spellings shows how military slang evolves informally—soldiers used both versions and never quite standardized their spelling, which tells us something about how military culture develops its own language.

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