neves Back-slang.
(ˈnɛvɪs)
Also nevis.
[Reversed form of ‘seven’.]
Seven years' hard labour.
| 1901 Farmer & Henley Slang V. 31/2 Nevis,..Seven... Nevis-stretch = seven year's hard. 1958 F. Norman Bang to Rights 22 Your f―ing lucky, I'm doing a bleeding neves. |