Neat \Neat\, n. sing. & pl. [AS. ne['a]t; akin to OHG. n?z, Icel. naut, Sw. n["o]t, Dan. n["o]d, and to AS. ne['o]tan to make use of, G. geniessen, Goth. niutan to have a share in, have joy of, Lith. nauda use, profit.]

(Zo["o]l.) 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Neat \Neat\, a. [See neat, n.]

Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to cattle of that genus; as, neat cattle.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Neat \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.

Note: [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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)