from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Peat \Peat\, n. [Prob. for beat, prop., material used to make
the fire burn better, fr. AS. b[=e]tan to better, mend (a
fire), b[=o]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.
[1913 Webster]
{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.]
[1913 Webster]