What is "peat moss"

Peat \Peat\, n. [Prob. for beat, prop., material used to make the fire burn better, fr. AS. b?tan to better, mend (a fire), b?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. Peat bog, a bog containing peat; also, peat as it occurs in such places; peat moss. Peat moss.

1. The plants which, when decomposed, become peat.

2. A fen producing peat.

3. (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.]

n. sphagnum.

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

1. redirect Sphagnum