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PADDLE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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View synonyms for paddle

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. any of the blades by which a water wheel is turned.
  8. a flipper or limb of a penguin, turtle, whale, etc.
  9. an act of paddling.
  10. Also pat·tle []. British Dialect. a small spade with a long handle, used to dig up thistles.
  11. (in a gate of a lock or sluice) a panel that slides to permit the passage of water.


verb (used without object)

paddled, paddling.
  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)

paddled, paddling.
  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)

paddled, paddling.
  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

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

      a paddle steamer

  4. the sliding panel in a lock or sluicegate that regulates the level or flow of water
  5. any of various instruments shaped like a paddle and used for beating, mixing, etc
  6. a table-tennis bat
  7. the flattened limb of a seal, turtle, or similar aquatic animal, specialized for swimming
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of paddling in water
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈpaddler, noun
  • ˈpaddler, noun
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Other Words From

  • paddler noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of paddle1

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

Origin of paddle2

First recorded in 1520–30; origen uncertain; perhaps from Low German paddeln “to tramp about”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of paddle1

C15: of unknown origen

Origin of paddle2

C16: of uncertain origen
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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) .
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Example Sentences

He helped retrieve three stranded cars - paddling to one and walking to the others wearing his wellies.

From BBC

About 20 minutes later, a rescue boat found a kayak, paddles and waders.

About 20 minutes later, a kayak, paddles and waders were found, but the boys were nowhere to be seen.

It is free at public parks and you can paddle up and rotate into a game with very friendly players.

"Best of luck to all the couples," Wallace calls out, peering over the top of the desk with a thumbs up, while Gromit holds up a score paddle with "7" on it.

From BBC

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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