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Peat
Definitions
- 1 A surname transferred from the given name.
- 1 Soil formed of dead but not fully decayed plants found in bog areas, often burned as fuel. countable, uncountable
"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 A pet, a darling; a woman. obsolete
"And let it not displease thee, good Bianca, / For I will love thee ne'er the less, my girl. / A pretty peat!"
- 3 partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried wordnet
Etymology
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.
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”).
From a Middle English pet-form of Peter.
See also for "peat"
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