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

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

Other Word Forms

• peaty 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

Coconut fibers broken down by millipedes may serve as a sustainable replacement for peat moss, a material commonly used to start seedlings but often sourced from fragile wetland ecosystems.

Read more on Science Daily

The farms are on rich peat soil that used to be underwater but is now slowly drying out.

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One local landowner, George Winn-Darley, said the peat fire had produced "an enormous cloud of pollution" that could have been prevented if there had not been live ordnance on site.

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"As the peat continues to burn down it is finding the Word War Two ordnance and therefore exploding and we have now experienced over 18 ordnance explosions within key areas," the officer added.

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But the wacky challenge, which involves racing through 120 yards of peat bog trench, saw nearly 200 people take part at the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships at Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys.

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Related Words

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