/pad"ee/ , n. , pl. paddies .
1. a rice field.
2. rice, esp. in the husk, either uncut or gathered.
[ 1590-1600; padi unhusked rice; currency of this word in E of India perh. due to early assoc. with Kannada batta, bhatta unhusked rice ( bhat cooked rice, Skt bhakhta food, meal) ]