peat

¹

[ peet ]

noun

1. a highly organic material found in marshy or damp regions, composed of partially decayed vegetable matter: it is cut and dried for use as fuel.
2. such vegetable matter used as fertilizer or fuel.

peat

²

[ peet ]

noun

1. Obsolete. a merry young girl; darling (used as a term of endearment).

peat

¹

/ piːt /

noun

1. 1. a compact brownish deposit of partially decomposed vegetable matter saturated with water: found in uplands and bogs in temperate and cold regions and used as a fuel (when dried) and as a fertilizer
   2. ( as modifier )

      peat bog

2. a piece of dried peat for use as fuel

peat

²

/ piːt /

noun

1. archaic.
   a person, esp a woman
2. obsolete.
   a term of endearment for a girl or woman

peat

/ pēt /

1. Partially decayed vegetable matter, especially peat moss, found in bogs. The low levels of oxygen and the acidic environment in bogs prevent the degradation of peat. Peat is burned as fuel and also used as fertilizer.
2. See more at bog

Derived Forms

• ˈpeaty, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peat¹

1300–50; Middle English pete (compare Anglo-Latin peta ) < ?

Origin of peat²

First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of peat¹

C14: from Anglo-Latin peta, perhaps from Celtic; compare Welsh peth thing

Origin of peat²

C16: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Somewhere, the aforementioned Spanish director behind “The Exterminating Angel” is nodding wryly at the idea of a satire about G-7 leaders set in a peat bog thick with mummified zombies.

From Los Angeles Times

To form the surface of a running track they were mixed with clay, peat moss, or ashes from burning coal, which held the surface together.

From BBC

The party also wants to create three new National Forests in England and expand protection for “nature-rich” habitats—such as wetlands and peat bogs.

From Science Magazine

The party says it will create more "nature-rich habitats", including wetlands and peat bogs, as well as finding private finance to establish three new national forests in England.

From BBC

SSE said the peat slip happened in an area of hillside at Upper Kergord in the centre of the islands on Tuesday afternoon.

From BBC

Related Words

• earth
• grass
• ground
• sod
• soil
• terrain
• territory
• track