/ ˈpædl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a short pole with a flat wide part at one or both ends, that you hold in both hands and use for moving a small boat, especially a canoe , through water
—compare oar
2.
[ C ] a tool or part of a machine shaped like a paddle, especially one used for mixing food
3.
a paddle [ sing. ] ( BrE ) an act or period of walking in shallow water with no shoes or socks :
Let's go for a paddle.
—see also dog-paddle
4.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) a bat used for playing table tennis
5.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) a piece of wood with a handle, used for hitting children as a punishment
•
IDIOMS
see creek
■ verb
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move a small boat through water using a paddle :
[ v ]
We paddled downstream for about a mile.
[ vn ]
We paddled the canoe along the coast.
2.
( BrE ) ( NAmE wade ) [ v ] to walk or stand with no shoes or socks in shallow water in the sea, a lake, etc. :
The children have gone paddling .
3.
[ v ] to swim with short movements of your hands or feet up and down
4.
[ vn ] ( NAmE ) to hit a child with a flat piece of wood as a punishment
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 2 and noun senses 4 to 5 verb sense 1 and verb senses 3 to 4 late Middle English (denoting a small spade-like implement): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th cent.
noun sense 3 and verb sense 2 mid 16th cent.: of obscure origin; compare with Low German paddeln tramp about; the association with water remains unexplained.