Category:Neat

Neat, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [as. neát; akin to ohg. n, icel. naut, sw. Nöt, dan. nöd, and to as. neótan to make use of, g. geniessen, goth. Niutan to have a share in, have joy of, lith. nauda use, profit.] (zoöl.)

Defn: cattle of the genus bos, as distinguished from horses, sheep, And goats; an animal of the genus bos; as, a neat's tongue; a neat's Foot. Chaucer. Wherein the herds[men] were keeping of their neat. Spenser. The steer, the heifer, and the calf are all called neat. Shak. A neat and a sheep of his own. Tusser. Neat's-foot, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It Is used to render leather soft and pliable.

Neat Neat, a. Etym: [see neat, n.]

Defn: of or pertaining to the genus bos, or to cattle of that genus; As, neat cattle.

Neat Neat, a. [compar. Neater; superl. Neatest.] Etym: [oe. nett, f. nett, Fr. L. nitidus, fr. nitere to shine. Cf. Nitid, net, a., Natty.]

1. Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean; cleanly; Tidy. If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor body it was that Was so surprisingly neat and clean. Law.

2. Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry; simple and Becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful; chaste; as, a neat Style; a neat dress.

3. Free from admixture or adulteration; good of its kind; as, neat Brandy. "our old wine neat." Chapman.

4. Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice; Finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief.

5. With all deductions or allowances made; net.

Note: [in this sense usually written net. See net, a., 3.] neat line (civil engin.), a line to which work is to be built or formed. -- neat work, work built or formed to neat lines.

Syn. -- nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce.