NEAT, n. Neat coincides with the root of need in elements, and if connected with it, the sense is a herd or collection, from crowding, pressing but this is doubtful.
1. Cattle of the bovine genus, as bulls, oxen and cows. In America, this word is used in composition, as in neats tongue, neats foot oil, and tautologically in neat cattle.
2. A single cow.
NEAT, a. L. to shine, to be clean, fair or fine pure, to purify, to winnow.
1. Very clean free from foul or extraneous matter as neat clothes. The vessels are kept neat the woman keeps her house very neat.
2. Pure free from impure words and phrases as a neat style.
3. Cleanly preserving neatness as a neat woman.
4. Pure unadulterated as neat wine.
5. Free from tawdry appendages and well adjusted as a neat dress.
6. Clear of the cask, case, bag, box, & 100: as neat weight. It is usually written net or nett.