Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BACKPAET, BACK-PEAT, n. The peat against which the fire was built. [-pet Sh.]Sh.⁷ 1932:
'Wiss, hinny, 'at du wid ging ta da paet-kro an' bring me a backpaet.Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Ork. Par. (1922) 9:
Down at the floor a hole about one foot square passed through the “back,” and in front of this hole was placed the back-peat — a wet, sandy peat, against which the fire of coal peats was built. . . . When the fire was built up in the morning a fresh back-peat was set up.