Category:Peat

Peat, n. Etym: [cf. Pet a fondling.]

Defn: a small person; a pet; -- sometimes used contemptuously. [obs.] Shak.

Peat Peat, n. Etym: [prob. for beat, prop., material used to make the fire Burn better, fr. As. b to better, mend (a fire), b advantage. See Better, boot advantage.]

Defn: a substance of vegetable origin, consisting of roots and Fibers, moss, etc., in various stages of decomposition, and found, as A kind of turf or bog, usually in low situations, where it is always More or less saturated with water. It is often dried and used for Fuel. Peat bog, a bog containing peat; also, peat as it occurs in Such places; peat moss. -- peat moss. (a) the plants which, when decomposed, become peat. (b) a fen producing peat. (c) (bot.) Moss of the genus sphagnum, Which often grows abundantly in boggy or peaty places. -- peat reek, the reek or smoke of peat; hence, also, the peculiar Flavor given to whisky by being distilled with peat as fuel. [scot.]