paddle Hear it!

paddle¹ Definition

pad·dle (pad′'l)

noun

  1. a relatively short pole with a broad blade at one end or sometimes both ends, held in the hands and used to propel and steer a canoe, kayak, etc.
  2. any of various implements shaped like this; specif.,
    1. a metal tool for stirring iron in a furnace
    2. a small, flat, wooden instrument for working butter, stirring clay, etc.
    3. ☆ a flat stick used for beating clothes in washing them by hand, as in a stream
    4. a flat, wooden stick for administering punishment by beating
    5. ☆ a flat, rounded piece of wood with a short handle, used to hit a ball, as in table tennis
  3. any of the propelling boards in a water wheel or paddle wheel

Etymology: ME padell, small spade < ?

intransitive verb -·dled, -·dling

to propel a canoe, etc. by means of a paddle

transitive verb

  1. to propel (a canoe, etc.) by means of a paddle or paddles
  2. to punish by beating as with a paddle; spank
  3. to stir, work, etc. with a paddle

paddle¹ Related Forms
pad′·dler noun
paddle¹ Idioms

paddle one's own canoe

☆

to depend entirely on oneself

paddle² Definition

pad·dle (pad′'l)

intransitive verb -·dled, -·dling

  1. to move the hands or feet about in the water, as in playing; dabble
  2. to walk like a small child; toddle
  3. Archaic to play idly with the fingers (on, in, etc.)

Etymology: prob. freq. < pad

paddle² Related Forms
pad′·dler noun
paddle Synonyms

paddle

n.

oar, pole, scull, sweep, paddle wheel; see also propeller.

paddle Synonyms

paddle

v.

  1. To propel by paddling

    row, scull, boat, cruise, drift, navigate, cut water, run rapids; see also drive 3, propel.

  2. To beat, usually rather lightly

    spank, thrash, rap; see beat 2, punish.

paddle Usage Examples

Object

  • kayak: It's no fun paddling a kayak in a hefty wind.
  • canoe: My Dad gave us expert tuition on how to paddle a canoe.

Converse of object

  • steer: For the rest of the road test I kept the car in semi-auto mode, changing gear with the steering column-mounted paddles.

Adjective modifier

  • doggy: Rather than breaking her limbs like rag doll back flipping over Niagara she doggy paddles back to safety in 20 seconds flat.
  • wheel-mounted: Gears are changed not with a standard stick shifter, but with steering wheel-mounted paddles to enable quick, smooth transitions and response.
  • bladed: Open Canoe Single bladed paddles are used Reasonably maneuverable ' Open ' meaning no decks Between 4.5 and 5.2 meters in length.

Preposition: into

  • wave: Big wave surfing is a discipline in surfing where riders paddle into waves which are at least 20.. .

Modifies a noun

  • steamer: The last of the sea going paddle steamers, built in 1947!
  • wheeler: There are aqua bikes, ocean kayaks, paddle wheelers and sea cycles.
  • tug: An example of reform in action is the disposal of the steam paddle tug Reliant, which had been removed from display in 1996.
  • gear: The entrance lock onto Morecambe Bay still had paddle gear on the upper gates during the 70's.
  • wheel: Even more unusual than the paddle wheel ferries was " Vehicular Ferry No 4 " built by Ferguson Brothers of Port Glasgow in 1938.
  • mixer: A safe paddle mixer for general professional and DIY use.

Noun used with modifier

  • pong: You can even spin the ball, just like a ping pong paddle!
  • boater: A nice bathroom and sights port charges and boaters paddle along.
  • ping: You can even spin the ball, just like a ping pong paddle!
  • canoe: Watch wading birds from the deck, swim in the pool or go for a canoe paddle.
  • gate: They had gate paddles in the top gates to let the water in.

Preposition: in

  • shallow: Below us families slathered sun tan lotion on their children and surfers paddled about in the shallows, waiting for the perfect wave.
paddle Quotes

He had his Mummy's leave to paddle, or else he would never have done it, because he was a man of infinite- resource-and-sagacity.

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

Browse dictionary entries near paddle

  1. ‹ Paddington
  2. ‹ padding
  3. ‹ padded cell
  4. ‹ padded
  5. ‹ padauk
  6. ‹ Padang
  7. ‹ PAD or Padding
  8. ‹ pad
  9. ‹ pact
  10. ‹ PACS
  1. paddle ball ›
  2. paddle one's own canoe ›
  3. paddle tennis ›
  4. paddle wheel ›
  5. paddle-wheeler ›
  6. paddled ›
  7. paddlefish ›
  8. paddock ›
  9. paddy ›
  10. paddy wagon ›