Obs. Also 7 levett, 7–8 levit(t. [? ad. It. levata ‘the name of a march vpon a Drumme and Trumpet in time of warre’ (Florio), f. levare to raise.] A trumpet call or musical strain to rouse soldiers and others in the morning.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Doub. Marriage, II. i. Come sirs, a queint Levet. [Trump. a levet.] To waken our brave Generall.
1656. W. Meredith, Narr. Passages Irel., in 8th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. 600/1. The enemy … were some distance from vs sounding levitts for joy of there supposed victory.
a. 1687. Cotton, Winter, xxxii. Poems (1689), 649. The Æolian Trumpetters By their Hoarse Levets, do declare That the bold General Rides there.
1705. S. Sewall, Diary, 1 Jan. (1879), II. 121. Col. Hobbey’s Negro … sends in … to have leave to give me a Levit and wish me a merry new year.
