1US. Usually with capital initial. A member or supporter of the Working Men's Party, a short-lived political party of the early 19th cent. which advocated the interests of the working class. Chiefly in plural Now historical.
2More generally: a worker, especially a manual labourer. Frequently Scottish in later use.
Origin
Mid 19th century. From work + -y.
Definition of workie in US English:
workie
(also worky)
nounˈwəːki
informal
1US. Usually with capital initial. A member or supporter of the Working Men's Party, a short-lived political party of the early 19th cent. which advocated the interests of the working class. Chiefly in plural Now historical.
2More generally: a worker, especially a manual labourer. Frequently Scottish in later use.