Paddle Definition

pădl

paddled, paddles, paddling

noun

paddles

A relatively short pole with a broad blade at one end or sometimes both ends, held in the hands and used to propel and steer a canoe, kayak, etc.

Webster's New World

Any of various implements shaped like this.

Webster's New World

A flat electrode that is part of a defibrillator and is put on a patient's chest to deliver an electric shock to the heart.

American Heritage Medicine

Any of the propelling boards in a water wheel or paddle wheel.

Webster's New World

A flipper or flattened appendage of certain animals.

American Heritage Medicine

Synonyms:

verb

paddled, paddles, paddling

To propel (a canoe, etc.) by means of a paddle or paddles.

Webster's New World

To move the hands or feet about in the water, as in playing; dabble.

Webster's New World

To move with a waddling motion; toddle.

American Heritage

To row slowly and gently.

American Heritage

To propel a canoe, etc. by means of a paddle.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

idiom

paddle one's own canoe

Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Paddle

Singular:

paddle

Plural:

Recorded since 1530, probably cognate with Low German paddeln "to tramp about," frequent. of padjen "to tramp, to run in short steps," from pad (also in Dutch dialects)

From Wiktionary
From Old English padell (1407, "small spade"), from Medieval Latin padela, perhaps from Latin patella "pan, plate", the diminutive of patina

From Wiktionary
Middle English padell tool used to clean plowshares perhaps from Medieval Latin padela

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Perhaps of Low German origin

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition