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.]
Peat (?), n. [Cf. Pet a fondling.]
A small person; a pet; -- sometimes used contemptuously. [Obs.] Shak.
Hear it pronounced