Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Peat?

\Peat\, n. [Cf. {Pet} a fondling.] A small person; a pet; -- sometimes used contemptuously. [Obs.] --Shak.
\Peat\, n. [Prob. for beat, prop., material used to make the fire burn better, fr. AS. b?tan to better, mend (a fire), b?t advantage. See {Better}, {Boot} advantage.] 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.]