Levee

n. [Fr. levée, from lever, to raise, se lever, to rise. See LAVE.]

1. The act or time of rising. [Obs.]
2. A morning assembly of visitors;—in distinction from a soirée, or evening assembly; a matinée; hence, also, any general or somewhat miscellaneous gathering of guests, usually in the evening; as, the president's levee.

☞ In this sense, usually pronounced le-vee', in the United States. 3. A bank or causeway, especially along a river, to prevent inundation; as, the levees along the Mississippi. Levee en masse. See LEVY.