levee 1
/lev"ee/ , n. , v. , leveed, leveeing .
n.
1. an embankment designed to prevent the flooding of a river.
2. Geol. See natural levee .
3. Agric. one of the small continuous ridges surrounding fields that are to be irrigated.
4. Hist. a landing place for ships; quay.
v.t.
5. to furnish with a levee: to levee a treacherous stream.
[ 1710-20, Amer.; levée levata embankment, n. use of fem. ptp. of L levare to raise, orig. lighten, akin to levis light, not heavy ]
levee 2
/lev"ee, le vee"/ , n.
1. (in Great Britain) a public court assembly, held in the early afternoon, at which men only are received.
2. a reception, usually in someone's honor: a presidential levee at the White House.
3. Hist. a reception of visitors held on rising from bed, as formerly by a royal or other personage.
[ 1665-75; levé, var. sp. of lever rising (n. use of inf.) levare to raise; see LEVEE 1 ]