An embankment against floods: especially that on the lower Mississippi. The levees of that river are fully described by Brackenridge, pp. 175–81.
1797. This immense river … was kept from overflowing these plantations by a raised bank, called a levée, which formed a fine broad walk immediately on the border of the river, and in many places was planted with orange and lemon trees.—Fra. Baily, F.R.S., ‘Journal of a Tour,’ pp. 295–6. (Lond., 1856). (Italics in the original.)
1812. What is considered a good levee, may almost any where be made for four hundred dolls. per mile.—H. M. Brackenridge, ‘Views of Louisiana,’ p. 177 (1814).
1815. The levee or margin of the river [at New Orleans.]—Mass. Spy, Feb. 15.
1819. The levee, or embankment, commences, on one side, at Natchez.—Henry C. Knight (‘Arthur Singleton’), ‘Letters from the South and West,’ p. 110 (Boston, 1824). (Italics in the original.)
1855. I presented a memorial in relation to the effect of leveeing, by the States of Missouri and Arkansas, of the right or west bank of the Mississippi River.—Mr. Etheridge of Tenn., House of Repr., Jan. 16: Cong. Globe, p. 276.
