peat moss

2 definitions found

peat moss - 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]

peat moss - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  peat moss
      n 1: any of various pale or ashy mosses of the genus Sphagnum
           whose decomposed remains form peat [syn: sphagnum,
           sphagnum moss, peat moss, bog moss]