GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Peat (pēt), n. [Cf. Pet a fondling.] A small person; a pet; -- sometimes used contemptuously. [Obs.]  Shak.
   
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2.       
   Peat, n. [Prob. for beat, prop., material used to make the fire burn better, fr. AS. bētan to better, mend (a fire), bōt 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.
   
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   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.]
   
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