\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.

\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.
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.