levee

Definitions


[ləˈviː], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river


Phrases:

Origin:
early 18th century (originally US): from French levée, feminine past participle of lever ‘to lift’


[ləˈviː], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a formal reception of visitors or guests
(e.g: the great stop on the Washington social circuit was the diplomat's levee)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 17th century (denoting a reception of visitors after rising from bed) : from French levé, variant of lever ‘rising’, from the verb lever




definition by Oxford Dictionaries