Neat (?), n. sing. & pl. [AS.
neÁt; akin to OHG. n?z, Icel. naut, Sw.
nöt, Dan. nöd, and to AS.
neótan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth.
niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda
use, profit.] (Zoöl.) 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.