peat
Soil formed of dead but not fully decayed plants found in bog areas, often burned as fuel.
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...
Origin
Inherited from Northern Middle English pete (recorded in Latin text as peta), of uncertain origin; perhaps from a Celtic language such as an unattested Pictish or Brythonic source, in turn possibly from Proto-Brythonic *peθ (“portion, segment, piece”); if so, it would be a doublet of piece.
Forms
Derived
cocopeat milled peat peat bog peated peatery peating peatland peatless peatlike peatman peat moss peat pot peat-reek peat-smoke peat spade Peats Ridge peatstack peatswamp peaty pitch peat
Noun obsolete
- 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! - c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares...
Origin
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”).