Paddle Definition

pădl

paddled, paddles, paddling

noun

paddles

A usually wooden implement having a blade at one end or sometimes at both ends, used without an oarlock to propel a canoe or small boat.

American Heritage

Any of various implements resembling the paddle of a boat or canoe, as:

American Heritage

A flat electrode that is part of a defibrillator and is put on a patient's chest to deliver an electric shock to the heart.

American Heritage Medicine

A board on a paddle wheel.

American Heritage

A flipper or flattened appendage of certain animals.

American Heritage Medicine

Synonyms:

verb

paddled, paddles, paddling

To propel (a canoe, etc.) by means of a paddle or paddles.

Webster's New World

To move the hands or feet about in the water, as in playing; dabble.

Webster's New World

To move with a waddling motion; toddle.

American Heritage

To row slowly and gently.

American Heritage

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

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

idiom

paddle one's own canoe

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Paddle

Singular:

paddle

Plural:

Recorded since 1530, probably cognate with Low German paddeln "to tramp about," frequent. of padjen "to tramp, to run in short steps," from pad (also in Dutch dialects)

From Wiktionary
From Old English padell (1407, "small spade"), from Medieval Latin padela, perhaps from Latin patella "pan, plate", the diminutive of patina

From Wiktionary
Middle English padell tool used to clean plowshares perhaps from Medieval Latin padela

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Perhaps of Low German origin

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition