peat

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Soil formed of dead but not fully decayed plants found in bog areas, often burned as fuel.

   On the return journey the engine ran short of coal, and came to a stand near Penygroes through shortage of steam. Fortunately, there was some peat in a nearby field, which the enginemen dug and the directors helped to carry to the engine. Steam was soon raised and the story had a happy ending!

2. 2
   noun

   A pet, a darling; a woman.

   And let it not displease thee, good Bianca, / For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. / A pretty peat!

3. 3
   noun

   partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water

Common collocations

• peat moss Noun + noun

Probably from Middle Dutch pete (“godmother or godfather”) (modern Dutch peet (“godparent, old woman, grandmother; godchild”)), related to dialectal German Pfette, Pfetter (“godfather; godchild”)), German Pate (“godfather, sponsor”), Patin (“godmother”). Or alternatively, related to pet (“a favourite”).

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images