from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Bank \Bank\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Banked}(b[a^][ng]kt); p. pr. &
vb. n. {Banking}.]
1. To raise a mound or dike about; to inclose, defend, or
fortify with a bank; to embank. "Banked well with earth."
--Holland.
[1913 Webster]
2. To heap or pile up; as, to bank sand.
[1913 Webster]
3. To pass by the banks of. [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Engineering) To build (a roadway or railroad) with an
inclination at a curve in the road, so as to counteract
centrifugal forces acting on vehicles moving rapiudly
around the curve, thus reducing the danger of vehicles
overturning at a curve; as, the raceway was steeply banked
at the curves.
[PJC]
{To bank a fire}, {To bank up a fire}, to cover the coals or
embers with ashes or cinders, thus keeping the fire low
but alive.
[1913 Webster]