Etymology

peat

P3E1A1T1

Today it means: Soil formed of dead but not fully decayed plants found in bog areas, often burned as fuel. Full definition →

First used 14th c.Northern Middle English pete ← Proto-Brythonic *peθ
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peat · noun1

  1. Proto-Brythonic · derived from*peθ“portion, segment, piece”
  2. Northern Middle English · inherited frompete
  3. English todaypeat

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.

peat · noun2

  1. Middle Dutch · borrowed frompete“godmother or godfather”
  2. English todaypeat

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”).

Peat · proper noun3

From a Middle English pet-form of Peter.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 14th c. Soil formed of dead but not fully decayed plants found in bog areas, often burned as fuel.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.