Neat — Defs

01 n. sing. & pl. 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.

1.
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.(Zool.)
“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.

Phrases & compounds

Neat's-foot — an oil obtained by boiling the feet of neat cattle. It is used to render leather soft and pliable.

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

1.
Of or pertaining to the genus Bos, or to cattle of that genus; as, neat cattle.

03 a. Free from that which soils, defiles, or disorders; clean; cleanly; tidy.

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; to drink one's vodka neat.(Chem.)
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.] See: Net

Phrases & compounds

neat line — 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.