paddle
[ˈpʰæ.ɾɫ̩] noun, verb, proper noun
Forms paddles paddling paddled paidle
- noun A single-bladed version is typically used on canoes and some other small boats.
- noun A double-bladed version with blades at each end of the shaft is used for kayaking.
- noun The use of a paddle to propel a boat; a session of paddling. “We had a nice paddle this morning.”
- noun A slat of a paddleboat's wheel.
- noun A paddlewheel.
- noun A blade of a waterwheel.
- noun (video games, dated) A game controller with a round wheel used to control player movement along one axis of the video screen.
- noun (UK) A meandering walk or dabble through shallow water, especially at the seaside.
- verb (transitive) To propel something through water with a paddle, oar, hands, etc.
- verb (intransitive) To row a boat with less than one's full capacity.
- verb (transitive) To spank with a paddle.
- verb To pat or stroke amorously or gently.
- verb To tread upon; to trample.
- verb (intransitive, UK) To walk or dabble playfully in shallow water, especially at the seaside.
- verb (intransitive) To dog paddle in water.
- verb (intransitive) To toddle.
- verb (archaic, intransitive) To toy or caress using hands or fingers.
- proper noun A surname.
Synonyms
racket bat boat paddle dabble splash around toddle coggle totter dodder waddle spank larrup
Etymology
Partly from the verb paddle ("to splash, dabble"; see below) and partly from Middle English padell (“small spade”).
Middle English padell is from Medieval Latin padela, itself of uncertain origin: perhaps an alteration of Middle English *spaddle (see also spaddle), a diminutive of spade; or from Latin patella (“pan, plate”), the diminutive of patina, or a merger of the two. Compare Ancient Greek πηδάλιον (pēdálion, “rudder, steering oar”), derived from πηδόν (pēdón, “the blade of an oar; an oar”).
Recorded since 1530, probably cognate with Low German paddeln (“to tramp about”), frequentative form of padjen (“to tramp, run in short steps”), from pad (also in Dutch dialects). Compare also Saterland Frisian paddelje (“to paddle”).
Webster’s 1913
- verb To use the hands or fingers in toying; to make caressing strokes.
- verb To dabble in water with hands or feet; to use a paddle, or something which serves as a paddle, in swimming, in paddling a boat, etc. As the men were paddling for their lives. L'Estrange.
- verb To pat or stroke amorously, or gently.
- verb To propel with, or as with, a paddle or paddles.
Etymology [Prob. for pattle, and a dim. of pat, v.; cf. also E. pad to tread, Prov. G. paddeln, padden, to walk with short steps, to paddle, G. patschen to splash, dash, dabble, F. patouiller to dabble, splash, fr. patte a paw. 1. To use the hands or fingers in toying; to make caressing strokes. [Obs.]
Etymology [See Paddle, v. i.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “paddle”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details