1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a short broad-bladed oar used without a rowlock.
2 a paddle-shaped instrument.
3 Zool. a fin or flipper.
4 each of the boards fitted round the circumference of a paddle-wheel or mill-wheel.
5 the action or a spell of paddling.
--v.
1. intr. & tr. move on water or propel a boat by means of paddles.
2 intr. & tr. row gently.
3 tr. esp. US colloq. spank.
Phrases and idioms:
paddle-boat (or -steamer etc.) a boat, steamer, etc., propelled by a paddle-wheel. paddle-wheel a wheel for propelling a ship, with boards round the circumference so as to press backwards against the water.
Derivatives:
paddler n.
Etymology: 15th c.: orig. unkn. 2. v. & n.
--v.intr. walk barefoot or dabble the feet or hands in shallow water.
--n. the action or a spell of paddling.
Derivatives:
paddler n.
Etymology: prob. of LG or Du. orig.: cf. LG paddeln tramp about