paddle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
  2. noun a blade of a paddle wheel or water wheel
  3. noun an instrument of punishment consisting of a flat board
  4. noun a short light oar used without an oarlock to propel a canoe or small boat
    boat paddle.
  5. verb propel with a paddle
    • paddle your own canoe
  6. verb play in or as if in water, as of small children
    dabble; splash around.
  7. verb swim like a dog in shallow water
  8. verb walk unsteadily
    totter; waddle; coggle; dodder; toddle.
    • small children toddle
  9. verb give a spanking to; subject to a spanking
    larrup; spank.
  10. verb stir with a paddle

WordNet

Pad"dle intransitive verb
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. .
Definitions
  1. To use the hands or fingers in toying; to make caressing strokes. Obs. Shak.
  2. 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.
    While paddling ducks the standing lake desire. Gay.
Pad"dle transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Paddled ; present participle & verbal noun Paddling
Definitions
  1. To pat or stroke amorously, or gently.
    To be paddling palms and pinching fingers. Shak.
  2. To propel with, or as with, a paddle or paddles.
  3. To pad; to tread upon; to trample. Prov. Eng.
Pad"dle noun
Etymology
See Paddle, v. i.
Definitions
  1. An implement with a broad blade, which is used without a fixed fulcrum in propelling and steering canoes and boats.
  2. The broad part of a paddle, with which the stroke is made; hence, any short, broad blade, resembling that of a paddle.
    Thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon. Deut. xxiii. 13.
  3. One of the broad boards, or floats, at the circumference of a water wheel, or paddle wheel.
  4. A small gate in sluices or lock gates to admit or let off water; -- also called clough.
  5. (Zoöl.) A paddle-shaped foot, as of the sea turtle.
  6. A paddle-shaped implement for string or mixing.
  7. In this sense prob. for older spaddle, a dim. of spade. See Paddle staff (b), below. Prov. Eng.

Webster 1913