civils

Etymology

noun

1. (chiefly informal) civil engineering
   The work involves extensive civils and p/w since, the track has to drop from the present embankment level, some 5m above the adjacent road, to the floor level of the new tunnel [the 'cut & cover' section of which, is, I guess, about 10m below it. January 07 1999, Ken Welsby, “Re: DLR Do”, in uk.transport.london (Usenet), retrieved 2008-07-07
   Our [ISO] 9000 (etc) accreditation extends, so far as I am aware, to cabling, ducting, poling and other civils activities. 13 May 2002, Ian G Batten, “Re:Safety on the railways”, in uk.railway (Usenet), retrieved 2008-07-07
   Conreate bases, ducts and minor civils […] bases for structures, in situ concrete bases, including holding down bolts and fixings. 2003, “DC Electrification”, in Franklin + Andrews Ltd, editor, Spon's Railways Construction Price Book 2nd Edition, page 79