From French 'levée' (raised thing), from Latin 'levare' (to raise)—borrowed from Louisiana French for river embankments.
An embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river.
From French 'levée' (a raising, something raised), feminine past participle of 'lever' (to raise), from Latin 'levare' (to raise, to lighten). A levee is literally 'the raised thing'—a bank of earth raised against a river. Borrowed into American English from French-speaking Louisiana colonists. Key roots