paddle

¹

[ pad-l ]

noun

1. a short, flat bladed oar for propelling and steering a canoe or small boat, usually held by both hands and moved more or less through a vertical arc.
2. any of various similar implements used for mixing, stirring, or beating.
3. any of various similar but smaller implements with a short handle for holding in one hand and a wide or rounded blade, used for a racket in table tennis, paddle tennis, etc.
4. such an implement or a similarly shaped makeshift one, used to spank or beat someone.
5. an implement used for beating garments while washing them in running water, as in a stream.
6. Also called float, floatboard. a blade of a paddle wheel.
7. paddle wheel.
8. any of the blades by which a water wheel is turned.
9. a flipper or limb of a penguin, turtle, whale, etc.
10. an act of paddling.
11. Also pat·tle []. British Dialect. a small spade with a long handle, used to dig up thistles.
12. (in a gate of a lock or sluice) a panel that slides to permit the passage of water.

verb (used without object)

, pad·dled, pad·dling.

1. to propel or travel in a canoe or the like by using a paddle.
2. to row lightly or gently with oars.
3. to move by means of paddle wheels, as a steamer.

verb (used with object)

, pad·dled, pad·dling.

1. to propel with a paddle:

   to paddle a canoe.

2. to spank or beat with or as with a paddle.
3. to stir, mix, or beat with or as with a paddle
4. to convey by paddling, as a canoe.
5. to hit (a table-tennis ball or the like) with a paddle.

paddle

²

[ pad-l ]

verb (used without object)

, pad·dled, pad·dling.

1. to move the feet or hands playfully in shallow water; dabble.
2. to toy with the fingers.
3. to toddle.

paddle

¹

/ ˈpædəl /

noun

1. a short light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to propel a canoe or small boat
2. Also calledfloat a blade of a water wheel or paddle wheel
3. a period of paddling

   to go for a paddle upstream

4. 1. a paddle wheel used to propel a boat
   2. ( as modifier )

      a paddle steamer

5. the sliding panel in a lock or sluicegate that regulates the level or flow of water
6. any of various instruments shaped like a paddle and used for beating, mixing, etc
7. a table-tennis bat
8. the flattened limb of a seal, turtle, or similar aquatic animal, specialized for swimming

verb

1. to propel (a canoe, small boat, etc) with a paddle
2. paddle one's own canoe
   1. to be self-sufficient
   2. to mind one's own business
3. tr to convey by paddling

   we paddled him to the shore

4. tr to stir or mix with or as if with a paddle
5. to row (a boat) steadily, esp (of a racing crew) to row firmly but not at full pressure
6. intr (of steamships) to be propelled by paddle wheels
7. intr to swim with short rapid strokes, like a dog
8. informal.
   tr to spank

paddle

²

/ ˈpædəl /

verb

1. to walk or play barefoot in shallow water, mud, etc
2. to dabble the fingers, hands, or feet in water
3. to walk unsteadily, like a baby
4. archaic.
   tr to fondle with the fingers

noun

1. the act of paddling in water

Derived Forms

• ˈpaddler, noun
• ˈpaddler, noun

Other Words From

• paddler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of paddle¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English noun padell “long-handled spade”; further origin uncertain; perhaps from Medieval Latin padela, padule

Origin of paddle²

First recorded in 1520–30; origin uncertain; perhaps from Low German paddeln “to tramp about”

Word History and Origins

Origin of paddle¹

C15: of unknown origin

Origin of paddle²

C16: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. paddle one's own canoe. canoe ( def 6 ).

More idioms and phrases containing paddle

In addition to the idiom beginning with paddle , also see up the creek (without a paddle) .

Example Sentences

Then we paddled back, racing to return the kayaks before sundown.

From Los Angeles Times

The timing couldn’t be better for the Rams, who, like furiously paddling surfers, have successfully caught this city’s swell of sports magic.

From Los Angeles Times

Out at the born-again lake, Coyote the junk dealer has contributed three kayaks and a canoe for anyone who feels like paddling.

From Los Angeles Times

The second time, in addition to an ablation, he underwent an electrical cardioversion, in which paddles that supply an electrical current are used to reset the heart’s rhythm back to a regular pattern.

From Los Angeles Times

Once the current had changed, they paddled ahead on the river.

From BBC

Related Words

• oar