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[pad-l] /ˈpæd l/

noun
1.
a short, flat bladed oar for propelling and steering a canoe or small boat, usually held by both hands and moved more or less through a vertical arc.
2.
any of various similar implements used for mixing, stirring, or beating.
3.
any of various similar but smaller implements with a short handle for holding in one hand and a wide or rounded blade, used for a racket in table tennis, , etc.
4.
such an implement or a similarly shaped makeshift one, used to spank or beat someone.
5.
an implement used for beating garments while washing them in running water, as in a stream.
6.
Also called float, floatboard. a blade of a .
7.
.
8.
any of the blades by which a water wheel is turned.
9.
a flipper or limb of a penguin, turtle, whale, etc.
10.
an act of paddling.
11.
Also, pattle. British Dialect. a small spade with a long handle, used to dig up thistles.
12.
(in a gate of a lock or sluice) a panel that slides to permit the passage of water.
verb (used without object), paddled, paddling.
13.
to propel or travel in a canoe or the like by using a paddle.
14.
to row lightly or gently with oars.
15.
to move by means of , as a steamer.
verb (used with object), paddled, paddling.
16.
to propel with a paddle:
to paddle a canoe.
17.
to spank or beat with or as with a paddle.
18.
to stir, mix, or beat with or as with a paddle.
19.
to convey by paddling, as a canoe.
20.
to hit (a table-tennis ball or the like) with a paddle.
Idioms
21.
paddle one’s own canoe. (def 6).
[pad-l] /ˈpæd l/
verb (used without object), paddled, paddling.
1.
to move the feet or hands playfully in shallow water; dabble.
2.
to toy with the fingers.
3.
to toddle.
/ˈpædəl/
noun
1.
a short light oar with a flat blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to propel a canoe or small boat
2.
Also called float. a blade of a water wheel or paddle wheel
3.
a period of paddling: to go for a paddle upstream
4.

5.
the sliding panel in a lock or sluicegate that regulates the level or flow of water
6.
any of various instruments shaped like a paddle and used for beating, mixing, etc
7.
a table-tennis bat
8.
the flattened limb of a seal, turtle, or similar aquatic animal, specialized for swimming
verb
9.
to propel (a canoe, small boat, etc) with a paddle
10.
paddle one’s own canoe

11.
(transitive) to convey by paddling: we paddled him to the shore
12.
(transitive) to stir or mix with or as if with a paddle
13.
to row (a boat) steadily, esp (of a racing crew) to row firmly but not at full pressure
14.
(intransitive) (of steamships) to be propelled by paddle wheels
15.
(intransitive) to swim with short rapid strokes, like a dog
16.
(transitive) (US & Canadian, informal) to spank
/ˈpædəl/
verb (mainly intransitive)
1.
to walk or play barefoot in shallow water, mud, etc
2.
to dabble the fingers, hands, or feet in water
3.
to walk unsteadily, like a baby
4.
(transitive) (archaic) to fondle with the fingers
noun
5.
the act of paddling in water
n.

c.1400, padell “small spade,” from Medieval Latin padela, of uncertain origin, perhaps from Latin patella “small pan, little dish, plate,” diminutive of patina (see pan (n.)).

Meaning “short oar with a wide blade” is from 1620s. As an instrument used for beating clothes (and slaves, and schoolboys), it is recorded from 1828, American English. Paddle-ball attested from 1935.
v.

“to dabble, wade in water,” 1520s, probably cognate with Low German paddeln “tramp about,” frequentative of padjen “to tramp, to run in short steps,” from pad (v.). Related: Paddled; paddling. Meaning “to move in water by means of paddles” is a different word (see paddle (v.3)).

“to beat with a paddle, spank,” 1856, from paddle (n.). Related: Paddled; paddling.

“to move in water by means of paddles,” 1670s, from paddle (n.). To paddle one’s (own) canoe “do for oneself” is from 1828.

Related Terms

up shit creek

A language for transformations leading from specification to program. Used in the POPART programming environment generator.
(1994-11-30)
In addition to the idiom beginning with paddle