I. ˈpad ə l noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English padell
1. dialect England : spud 2
2.
a. : a rather short light wooden pole with a broad fairly flat blade at one end or sometimes at both ends that is used for propelling and steering or stopping a canoe or other similar small light craft, that is not designed for use with an oarlock, and that is grasped and dipped vertically or nearly vertically into the water so that the blade can be pushed against and raised from the water or otherwise manipulated so as to propel or steer or stop
b. : something (as the flipper of a seal) used for propulsion through the water and suggestive of a paddle in appearance or function
c. : the arm or blade of a semaphore signal
3. : an implement suggestive in shape of a paddle: as
a.
(1) : a long metal implement used for stirring or mixing something (as molten ore materials in glass manufacture)
(2) : a small light flat wooden implement used especially for working butter
b. : an implement of moderate length used for beating clothes being washed by hand
c. : a flat rather heavy usually wooden instrument used for administering physical punishment
4.
a. : one of the broad boards at the circumference of a paddle wheel or waterwheel
b. : paddle wheel
5.
a. : a small gate in a sluice or lock gate to let water in or out
b. : a sliding panel that regulates the quantity of grain running out of a hopper
II. verb
( paddled ; paddled ; paddling -d( ə )liŋ ; paddles )
intransitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to go along the surface of water or through water by or as if by using a paddle
paddling down the stream in a canoe
(2) : to swim along easily or gently or with movements suggestive of one using a paddle
b. : to row a boat easily or gently
were in no hurry so they just paddled along
2. : to go along the surface of water by means of a paddle wheel
watched the showboat paddling slowly toward the shore
3. : to throw the feet to the side in running
transitive verb
1.
a. : to propel by or as if by a paddle
paddled the little boat closer to shore
b. : to transport in a canoe or other similar light craft by using a paddle
paddled us over to the other side of the river
2.
a. : to beat or stir with a paddle or paddle wheel (as in washing, dyeing, puddling)
b. : to punish by or as if by beating with a paddle : thrash , thwack , spank
her mother paddled her for not keeping quiet
3. : to treat (hides or skins being processed for leather) in a vat equipped with a paddle wheel
•
- paddle one's own canoe
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: paddle (II)
: the action of paddling
returned to shore after a brief paddle on the lake
IV. verb
( paddled ; paddled ; paddling ; paddles )
Etymology: origin unknown
intransitive verb
1. : to move about or dabble (as in shallow water) making light splashes (as with the hands or feet) : wade about or play about splashing lightly and dabbling
watched the children gleefully paddling in the rain puddles
sat on the edge of the boat and paddled in the water with her feet
2. archaic : to keep touching something lightly with the fingers : toy with or pat or stroke something in an apparently idle or purposeless way
let her keep paddling on with his hand — W.M.Thackeray
3. : to walk with short often hesitant or somewhat unsteady steps like those of a child : toddle
his little daughter paddled up to him and kissed him
4. : to throw the feet to the side in running ; specifically : dish 2
transitive verb
dialect England : to tread upon : trample
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: lumpfish
VI. noun
: a small hand-held remote control device ; especially : such a device having a dial used to control linear movement of a visual cue (as a cursor) on a computer display screen