paddle wheel

noun

1. a wheel for propelling a ship, having a number of paddles entering the water more or less perpendicularly.

paddle wheel

noun

1. a large wheel fitted with paddles, turned by an engine to propel a vessel on the water

Other Words From

• paddle-wheel adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paddle wheel¹

First recorded in 1675–85

Example Sentences

The 'Syria' was originally a paddle-wheel steamer, having oscillating cylinders worked with steam of 25 lbs.

From Project Gutenberg

In the same vessel he adopted a feathering paddle-wheel and the guard-beam now universally seen in our river steamboats.

From Project Gutenberg

The screw was found to possess many advantages over the paddle-wheel as an instrument for ship-propulsion.

From Project Gutenberg

All these were paddle-wheel boats, and paddle-wheel boats are not adapted to work in heavy seas.

From Project Gutenberg

With chain or rope traction there is no loss by slip or oblique action, as in both screw and paddle-wheel propulsion.

From Project Gutenberg