Levy

Levy (Fr. levée) is the compulsory raising of a body of troops from any specified class in the community for purposes of general defence or offence when the existing military forces are insufficient to meet the necessities of the case. When a country is in danger of instant invasion a levée en masse is sometimes made—i.e. every man capable of bearing arms is required to contribute in person towards the common defence. On less urgent occasions the levy may be restricted to a class, as to men between eighteen and forty years of age.