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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PEAT, n.² Also pete, peet-; pate. Dim. peatie, -y. [pit]

1. A term of endearment, esp. for a child (Abd. 1965), also jocularly applied to a small man. Obs. in Eng. since 18th c. Adj. ¶peetly, dear, cherished, favourite, but it is uncertain whether this last belongs here. Cf. Paitlich.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Musings 143:
You're dear to mammie an' to dad Oor ain wee peetly pailwur.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd x.:
I wis jist a wee bit peat o' a quine.

†2. A term of reproach or scorn for a woman, freq. in phr. proud peat, a vain and presumptuous woman, a “madam”. Obs. in Eng. in 17th c. but revived by Scott and his imitators, by whom it is also applied to men.Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth xvii.:
Ere he takes back yonder proud peat to his table and his bed.Fif. 1866 Good Words 267:
The presumptuous peat! the light-headed auld fule! to mint sic madness.Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 133:
The folk aboot the place thocht her a prood peat, and left her very much to hersel'.

†3. An advocate reputed to be the protégé of some particular judge. Dim. peaty, id. (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). Hence peatship, the state of being favoured or patronised by a judge, the position of a peat.Sc. 1700 Court of Session Garland (1871) 8 note:
Three Judges walking with their peats I found.Sc. 1706 J. Watson Choice Coll. i. 21:
Being thus advis'd away to Pete I trudge, Pray him, and pay him to bespeak the Judge.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Letter xiii. and Note:
As like being a kin to a peatship and a sheriffdom, as a sieve is sib to a riddle. . . . Formerly, a lawyer, supposed to be under the peculiar patronage of any particular judge, was invidiously termed his peat or pet.Sc. 1861 R. Chambers Dom. Annals III. 291:
Each lord [of Session] had a “Pate” — that is, a dependent member of the bar (sometimes called Peat), who, being largely fee'd by a party, could on that consideration influence his patron.