Hogeye is certainly a nautical term ... thanks for clearing it up Barry! I seem to recall a conversation on this topic at Radio Mexico after a sing at Southstreet Seaport last February ...

Navvy/Navvie is almost an epithet in the UK -- commonly associated with the Irish who were "imported" to work the roads and canals in the 1700s and still seem to be there to this day ... (I am of Irish origin too ...)

The Pogues (dare I mention them on this website) render an interesting song entitled "Navigator" referring to Navvie contributions to empires, conglomerations, at their expense. "Navigator, navigator rise up and be strong/...there's work to be done ..." A great song. Check it out.

Cheers, Allahamdalla, Brian