Neat (?), n. sing. & pl. [AS. ne�xa0;t; akin to OHG. nz, Icel. naut, Sw. not, Dan. nod, and to AS. neotan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth. niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda use, profit.] Zool.
Cattle of the genus Bos, as distinguished from horses, sheep, and goats; an animal of the genus Bos; as, a neat's tongue; a neat's foot.
Chaucer.
Wherein the herds[men] were keeping of their neat.
Spenser.
The steer, the heifer, and the calf
Are all called neat.
Shak.
A neat and a sheep of his own.
Tusser.
Neat's-foot, an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It is used to render leather soft and pliable.
© Webster 1913.
Neat, a. [See neat, n.]
Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to cattle of that genus; as, neat cattle.
© Webster 1913.
Neat, a. [Compar. Neater (?); superl. Neatest.] [OE. nett, F. nett, fr. L. nitidus, fr. nitere to shine. Cf. Nitid, Net, a., Natty.]
1.
Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean; cleanly; tidy.
If you were to see her, you would wonder what poor body it was that was so surprisingly neat and clean.
Law.
2.
Free from what is unbecoming, inappropriate, or tawdry; simple and becoming; pleasing with simplicity; tasteful; chaste; as, a neat style; a neat dress.
3.
Free from admixture or adulteration; good of its kind; as, neat brandy.
"Our old wine
neat."
Chapman.
4.
Excellent in character, skill, or performance, etc.; nice; finished; adroit; as, a neat design; a neat thief.
5.
With all deductions or allowances made; net. [In this sense usually written net. See Net, a., 3.]
neat line Civil Engin., a line to which work is to be built or formed. -- Neat work, work built or formed to neat lines.
Syn. -- Nice; pure; cleanly; tidy; trim; spruce.
© Webster 1913.