peat

[Etym. doubtful. Skeat considers the truo form to be beat, from its being used to beet or mend the fire, from Mid. Eng. beten to replenish a fire.] IMG:content-0786.png:[blocks in formation] II. Geol . & Petrol : A deposit formed in bogs by the decay of vegetable matter, frequently consisting almost entirely of Sphagnum, or bog-mo . In composition it differs from coal only in the relative proportion of its constituents. Thus, peat contains: Carbon, 55-62; hydrogen, 688; oxygen and nitrogen, 37:50; while coal consists of: Carbon, 88 to 94 per cont.; hydrogen, 2.5 -5.5; oxygen, 2.5-6.0. It forms extensive deposits in various parts of northern Europe, and notably in parts of Ireland, where it is commonly known as turf, and is largely used as fuel.