English Explanatory Dictionary

paddle

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A two-handed implement consisting of a shaft with one or two blades attached to the end(s) used to propel a canoe, kayak or a small boat. A paddle is unattached to the boat and freely operated with the hands, compared with an oar which is attached to the boat at a pivot point.
  2. A single-bladed version is typically used on canoes and some other small boats.
  3. A double-bladed version with blades at each end of the shaft is used for kayaking.
  4. The use of a paddle to propel a boat; a session of paddling.
  5. A slat of a paddleboat's wheel.
  6. A paddlewheel.
  7. A blade of a waterwheel.
  8. A game controller with a round wheel used to control player movement along one axis of the video screen.
  9. A meandering walk or dabble through shallow water, especially at the seaside.
  10. A kitchen utensil shaped like a paddle and used for mixing, beating etc.
  11. A broad, flat spanking implement.
  12. A broad, flat device used in striking the ball, analogous to a racket in tennis.
verb
  1. To propel something through water with a paddle, oar, hands, etc.
  2. To row a boat with less than one's full capacity.
  3. To spank with a paddle.
  4. To pat or stroke amorously or gently.
  5. To tread upon; to trample.
verb
  1. To walk or dabble playfully in shallow water, especially at the seaside.
  2. To dog paddle in water.
  3. To toddle.
  4. To toy or caress using hands or fingers.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈpædl̩/ [ˈpʰæ.ɾɫ̩] En-au-paddle.ogg

Word forms

paddle paddles paidle paddling paddled

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”).

Synonyms

racket bat

Related words

oar

Derived words

beer paddle butter paddle cactus paddle doggie paddle doggy-paddle doggy paddle dog-paddle dog paddle paddleball paddle board paddleboard paddle boat paddleboat paddle box paddlebox paddlecraft paddlefish paddlefoot paddleful paddle grass paddleless paddlelike paddle-out paddle pop paddler paddle scoop paddle shifter paddlesport paddle-staff paddle steamer paddle-tailed newt paddle tennis paddlewheel paddle wheel paddle wheeler paddlewood paddling paddlogaine pizza paddle rice paddle shock paddle sneak paddle traffic paddle up a creek without a paddle up shit creek without a paddle up shit's creek without a paddle up the creek without a paddle washing paddle backpaddle knee-paddle mispaddle paddleable paddle one's own canoe paddling pool

Translations

Arabic: مِجْدَاف Armenian: թիակ Bangi: nkai Bashkir: ишкәк Belarusian: вясло́ Bulgarian: гребло́ Bulgarian: лопа́та Catalan: rem Catalan: pala Cebuano: bugsay Chinese Mandarin: 槳 /桨 Chinook Jargon: isick Czech: pádlo Danish: paddel Danish: padle Danish: padleåre Danish: pagaj Dutch: paddel Dutch: peddel Dutch: pagaai Esperanto: pagajo Estonian: mõla Finnish: mela French: pagaie French: rame French: aviron German: Paddel German: Doppelpaddel Greek: κουπί Hausa: filafili Hawaiian: hoe Higaonon: bugsay Hindi: चप्पू Hindi: पतवार Hungarian: evező Irish: céasla Italian: pagaia Ivatan: kawod Japanese: かい Japanese: 櫂 Japanese: パドル Khmer: ចែវ Khmer: ច្រវា Kituba: nkafi Kongo: nkayi Korean: 노 Korean: 로 Lingala: nkai Macedonian: весло Malayalam: പങ്കായം Malayalam: തുഴ Mansaka: bugsay Māori: hoe Mongo: nkai Norwegian Bokmål: padleåre Norwegian Nynorsk: padleåre
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