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(), n. sing. & pl.[AS. net; akin to OHG. nz, Icel. naut, Sw. nt, Dan. nd, and to AS. netan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth. niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda use, profit.] (Zol.) 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. Neat a.[See neat, n.] Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to cattle of that genus; as, neat cattle. 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. スポンサード リンク
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