Etymology Partly from the verb paddle ("to splash, dabble"; see below) and partly from Middle English padell (“small spade”). Middle English padell is from Medieval Latin padela, itself of uncertain origin: perhaps an alteration of Middle English *spaddle (see also spaddle), a diminutive of spade; or from Latin patella (“pan, plate”), the diminutive of patina, or a merger of the two. Compare Ancient Greek πηδάλιον (pēdálion, “rudder, steering oar”), derived from πηδόν (pēdón, “the blade of an oar; an oar”).
A single-bladed version is typically used on canoes and some other small boats.
2
A double-bladed version with blades at each end of the shaft is used for kayaking.
3
The use of a paddle to propel a boat; a session of paddling.
We had a nice paddle this morning.
I managed one mighty paddle of 38km up the coast to Wicklow before the next bloody storm was due to hit.2021, Jordan Wylie, The Power of the Paddle:
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A slat of a paddleboat's wheel.
5
A paddlewheel.
6
A blade of a waterwheel.
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Video gamesDated A game controller with a round wheel used to control player movement along one axis of the video screen.
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UK A meandering walk or dabble through shallow water, especially at the seaside.
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A kitchen utensil shaped like a paddle and used for mixing, beating etc.
10
A broad, flat spanking implement.
The paddle practically ousted the British cane for spankings in the independent US.
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A broad, flat device used in striking the ball, analogous to a racket in tennis.
(UK)
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A flat board with a number of holes or indentations, used to carry small alcoholic drinks such as shots.
And it really is a paddle, too, with a blade big enough to hold several sampling glasses of different beers (known for some reason as a 'flight') for customers to try. Beer paddles have become very popular in American craft beer bars: […]2019, Ted Bruning, The Bar Owners' Handbook, page 111:
13
A flat limb of an aquatic animal, adapted for swimming.
A sea turtle's paddles make it swim almost as fast as land tortoises are slow.
14
In a sluice, a panel that controls the flow of water.
15
A handheld electrode used for defibrillation or cardioversion.
Medicine, Sciences A flap of attached skin that has been cut away from a wound.
A large ( 13 x 25 cm ) paddle of skin was used to cover a large wound following a temporal bone resection.2009, Berish Strauch, Luis O. Vasconez, M.d., Elizabeth J. Hall-Findlay, Grabb's Encyclopedia of Flaps - Volume 1, page 373:
About 10% of perforators to the skin paddle of the flap are septocutaneous blood vessels that travel though the intermuscular septum that separates the rectus femoris muscle from the vastus lateralis muscle.2012, Mark L. Urken, Mack L. Cheney, Keith E. Blackwell, Atlas of Regional and Free Flaps for Head and Neck Reconstruction, page 235:
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Hobbies, Lifestyle, SportsAlternative Alternative form of padel.
Etymology Partly from the verb paddle ("to splash, dabble"; see below) and partly from Middle English padell (“small spade”). Middle English padell is from Medieval Latin padela, itself of uncertain origin: perhaps an alteration of Middle English *spaddle (see also spaddle), a diminutive of spade; or from Latin patella (“pan, plate”), the diminutive of patina, or a merger of the two. Compare Ancient Greek πηδάλιον (pēdálion, “rudder, steering oar”), derived from πηδόν (pēdón, “the blade of an oar; an oar”).
1
To propel something through water with a paddle, oar, hands, etc.
as the Men were Paddling for their Lives1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
while paddling ducks the standing lake desire1714, J[ohn] Gay, “(please specify the page number(s))”, in The Shepherd’s Week. In Six Pastorals, London: […] R. Burleigh […], →OCLC:
1 more example
Daytimes we paddled all over the island in the canoe[…]1884 December 10, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], chapter IX, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: (Tom Sawyer’s Comrade) […], London: Chatto & Windus, […], →OCLC:
2
To row a boat with less than one's full capacity.
3
To spank with a paddle.
Do you think we'll get paddled? They can't paddle me! I'm a girl!!1986 January 15, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic):
4
To pat or stroke amorously or gently.
to be paddling palms and pinching fingers.c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
Etymology Recorded since 1530, probably cognate with Low German paddeln (“to tramp about”), frequentative form of padjen (“to tramp, run in short steps”), from pad (also in Dutch dialects). Compare also Saterland Frisian paddelje (“to paddle”).
1
UK To walk or dabble playfully in shallow water, especially at the seaside.
2
To dog paddle in water.
3
To toddle.
[…] little feet paddling round and about a man's bed and following wherever he went.1889, J. H. Riddell, A Terrible Vengeance: