paddle

pad·dle¹ (p

1. 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.

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

a. An iron tool for stirring molten ore in a furnace.

b. A tool with a shovellike blade used to mix materials in glassmaking.

c. A potter's pallet.

d. A narrow board used to beat clothes when laundering by hand.

e. A flattened board used to administer physical punishment.

f. Sports A light wooden or plastic racket used in playing table tennis, platform tennis, and similar games.

3. A board on a paddle wheel.

4. A flipper or flattened appendage of certain animals.

5. Botany See pad¹.

6. The act of paddling.

v. pad·dled, pad·dling, pad·dles

v.intr.

1. Nautical

a. To propel a watercraft with paddles or a paddle.

b. To row slowly and gently.

2. To move through water by means of repeated short strokes of the limbs.

v.tr.

1. Nautical

a. To propel (a watercraft) with paddles or a paddle.

b. To convey in a watercraft propelled by paddles.

2. To spank or beat with a paddle, especially as a punishment.

3. To stir or shape (material) with a paddle.

[Middle English padell, tool used to clean plowshares, perhaps from Medieval Latin padela.]

paddler n.

paddle¹

left to right: paddleball, canoe, and kayak paddles

paddle ¹

Noun

1. a short light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends

2. a paddle wheel used to move a boat

3. a blade of a water wheel or paddle wheel

Verb

[-dling, -dled]

1. to move (a boat) with a paddle

2. to swim with short rapid strokes, like a dog

3. US & Canad informal to spank [origin unknown]

paddle ²

Verb

[-dling, -dled]

1. to walk barefoot in shallow water

2. to dabble (one's fingers, hands, or feet) in water

Noun

the act of paddling in water [origin unknown]

ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms

Noun	1.	paddle - small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games bat - a club used for hitting a ball in various games pingpong paddle, table-tennis bat, table-tennis racquet - paddle used to play table tennis
	2.	paddle - a blade of a paddle wheel or water wheel vane, blade - flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water mill wheel, millwheel - water wheel that is used to drive machinery in a mill paddle wheel, paddlewheel - a large wheel fitted with paddles and driven by an engine in order to propel a boat
	3.	paddle - an instrument of punishment consisting of a flat board instrument of punishment - an instrument designed and used to punish a condemned person
	4.	paddle - a short light oar used without an oarlock to propel a canoe or small boat boat paddle oar - an implement used to propel or steer a boat
Verb	1.	paddle - propel with a paddle; "paddle your own canoe" athletics, sport - an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition feather, square - turn the paddle; in canoeing boat - ride in a boat on water
	2.	paddle - play in or as if in water, as of small children splash around, dabble play - be at play; be engaged in playful activity; amuse oneself in a way characteristic of children; "The kids were playing outside all day"; "I used to play with trucks as a little girl"
	3.	paddle - swim like a dog in shallow water aquatics, water sport - sports that involve bodies of water swim - travel through water; "We had to swim for 20 minutes to reach the shore"; "a big fish was swimming in the tank"
	4.	paddle - walk unsteadily; "small children toddle" coggle, dodder, toddle, waddle, totter walk - use one's feet to advance; advance by steps; "Walk, don't run!"; "We walked instead of driving"; "She walks with a slight limp"; "The patient cannot walk yet"; "Walk over to the cabinet"
	5.	paddle - give a spanking to; subject to a spanking larrup, spank beat up, work over, beat - give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression; "Thugs beat him up when he walked down the street late at night"; "The teacher used to beat the students"
	6.	paddle - stir with a paddle stir - move an implement through; "stir the soup"; "stir my drink"; "stir the soil"