~ 1
■ noun
1》 a short pole with a broad blade at one or both ends, used to move a small boat or canoe through the water.
↘an act of paddling.
↘each of the boards fitted round the circumference of a ~ wheel or mill wheel.
↘the fin or flipper of an aquatic mammal or bird.
2》 a short-handled bat such as that used in table tennis.
↘any of various ~-shaped instruments used for stirring or mixing.
↘ N. Amer. informal a ~-shaped instrument used for administering corporal punishment.
3》 a flat array of solar cells projecting from a spacecraft.
4》 Medicine a plastic-covered electrode used in cardiac stimulation.
■ verb
1》 propel (a boat or canoe) with a ~ or ~s.
↘(of a bird or other animal) swim with short, fast strokes.
2》 informal, chiefly N. Amer. beat with a ~ as a punishment.
Derivatives
~r noun
Origin
ME: of unknown origin.
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~ 2
■ verb walk with bare feet in shallow water.
■ noun an act of paddling.
Derivatives
~r noun
Origin
C16: of obscure origin; cf. Low Ger. paddeln 'tramp about'.