Paddle, v. i. [Prob. for pattle, and a dim. of pat, v.; cf. also E. pad to tread, Prov. G. paddeln, padden, to walk with short steps, to paddle, G. patschen to splash, dash, dabble, F. patouiller to dabble, splash, fr. patte a paw.

To use the hands or fingers in toying; to make caressing strokes. Shak. [1913 Webster]
To dabble in water with hands or feet; to use a paddle, or something which serves as a paddle, in swimming, in paddling a boat, etc. [1913 Webster]
"As the men were paddling for their lives." [1913 Webster]

"While paddling ducks the standing lake desire." [1913 Webster]

Paddle, v. t.

To pat or stroke amorously, or gently. [1913 Webster]
"To be paddling palms and pinching fingers." [1913 Webster]
To propel with, or as with, a paddle or paddles. [1913 Webster]
To pad; to tread upon; to trample. [1913 Webster]
To spank with a paddle or as if with a paddle; -- usually as a disciplinary punishment of children. [PJC]
To mix (a viscous liquid) by stirring or beating with a paddle. [PJC]

Paddle, n. [See Paddle, v. i.].

An implement with a broad blade, which is used without a fixed fulcrum in propelling and steering canoes and boats. [1913 Webster]
The broad part of a paddle, with which the stroke is made; [1913 Webster]
"Thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon." [1913 Webster]
One of the broad boards, or floats, at the circumference of a water wheel, or paddle wheel. [1913 Webster]
A small gate in sluices or lock gates to admit or let off water; -- also called clough. [1913 Webster]
A paddle-shaped foot, as of the sea turtle. [1913 Webster]
A paddle-shaped implement for stirring or mixing. [1913 Webster]
See Paddle staff (b), below. [1913 Webster]

Paddle beam (Shipbuilding), one of two large timbers supporting the spring beam and paddle box of a steam vessel. -- Paddle board. See Paddle, n., 3. -- Paddle shaft, the revolving shaft which carries the paddle wheel of a steam vessel. -- Paddle staff. (a) A staff tipped with a broad blade, used by mole catchers. [Prov. Eng.] (b) A long-handled spade used to clean a plowshare; -- called also plow staff. [Prov. Eng.] -- Paddle steamer, a steam vessel propelled by paddle wheels, in distinction from a screw propeller. -- Paddle wheel, the propelling wheel of a steam vessel, having paddles (or floats) on its circumference, and revolving in a vertical plane parallel to the vessel's length.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Paddle, 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.

Idiom

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.

Derivative

paddler n.

Paddle, v. & n.
--v.intr. walk barefoot or dabble the feet or hands in shallow water.
--n. the action or a spell of paddling.

Derivative

paddler n.

Etymology

prob. of LG or Du. orig.: cf. LG paddeln tramp about

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THESAURUS

Paddle

agitate, agitator, amble, asperge, barge, beat, beat up, beater, bedew, bespatter, besprinkle, birch, bowl along, bundle, cane, catch a crab, churn, churn up, club, clump, convulse, cut a crab, dabble, damp, dampen, dash, dew, disarrange, discompose, disquiet, disturb, douche, drag, dress down, droop, eggbeater, excite, feather, feather an oar, ferment, ferule, flax, flog, flounce, flurry, foot, footslog, fret, gait, gallop, give a dressing-down, give way, halt, hide, hippety-hop, hitch, hobble, hop, hose, hose down, humect, humectate, humidify, irrigate, jiggler, jog, jolt, jump, larrup, lather, leather, lick, limp, lock step, lumber, lunge, lurch, mince, mincing steps, moisten, oar, pace, pandybat, peg, perturb, perturbate, piaffe, piaffer, plod, ply the oar, pole, prance, pull, punt, rack, rattan, rile, ripple, rod, roil, roll, roughen, row, row away, row dry, ruffle, ruler, rumple, sashay, saunter, scuff, scuffle, scull, scuttle, shake, shake up, shaker, shamble, ship oars, shoot, shuffle, sidle, single-foot, skip, sky an oar, slink, slither, slobber, slog, slop, slosh, slouch, slowness, spank, sparge, spatter, splash, splatter, sponge, spray, sprinkle, stagger, stalk, stamp, steering oar, step, stick, stir, stir up, stomp, straddle, straggle, stride, stroll, strolling gait, strut, stump, swagger, swash, sweep, swing, swirl, switch, syringe, tan, thrash, tittup, toddle, totter, traipse, tread, trim, trip, trot, trouble, trudge, upset, velocity, vibrator, waddle, wade, walk, wallop, wamble, water, welt, wet, wet down, whale, whip, whip up, whisk, wiggle, wobble, work up

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ROGET THESAURUS

Paddle

Instrument

N instrument, machinery, mechanism, engineering, instrument, organ, tool, implement, utensil, machine, engine, lathe, gin, mill, air engine, caloric engine, heat engine, gear, tackle, tackling, rig, rigging, apparatus, appliances, plant, materiel, harness, trappings, fittings, accouterments, barde, equipment, equipmentage, appointments, furniture, upholstery, chattels, paraphernalia, mechanical powers, lever, leverage, mechanical advantage, crow, crowbar, handspike, gavelock, jemmy, jimmy, arm, limb, wing, oar, paddle, pulley, wheel and axle, wheelwork, clockwork, wheels within wheels, pinion, crank, winch, cam, pedal, capstan, wheel, inclined plane, wedge, screw, spring, mainspring, can hook, glut, heald, heddle, jenny, parbuckle, sprag, water wheel, handle, hilt, haft, shaft, heft, shank, blade, trigger, tiller, helm, treadle, key, turnscrew, screwdriver, knocker, hammer, edge tool, borer, vice, teeth, nail, rope, peg, support, spoon, arms, oar, cardiograph, recapper, snowplow, tenpenny, votograph, instrumental, mechanical, machinal, brachial.

Journey

VB travel, journey, course, take a journey, go a journey, take a walk, go out for walk, have a run, take the air, flit, take wing, migrate, emigrate, trek, rove, prowl, roam, range, patrol, pace up and down, traverse, scour the country, traverse the country, peragrate, circumambulate, perambulate, nomadize, wander, ramble, stroll, saunter, hover, go one's rounds, straggle, gad, gad about, expatiate, walk, march, step, tread, pace, plod, wend, go by shank's mare, promenade, trudge, tramp, stalk, stride, straddle, strut, foot it, hoof it, stump, bundle, bowl along, toddle, paddle, tread a path, take horse, ride, drive, trot, amble, canter, prance, fisk, frisk, caracoler, caracole, gallop, embark, board, set out, hit the road, get going, get underway, peg on, jog on, wag on, shuffle on, stir one's stumps, bend one's steps, bend one's course, make one's way, find one's way, wend one's way, pick one's way, pick one's way, thread one's way, plow one's way, slide, glide, coast, skim, skate, march in procession, file on, defile, go to, repair to, resort to, hie to, betake oneself to.

Navigation

N navigation, aquatics, boating, yachting, ship, oar, paddle, screw, sail, canvas, aileron, natation, swimming, fin, flipper, fish's tail, aerostation, aerostatics, aeronautics, balloonery, balloon, ballooning, aviation, airmanship, flying, flight, volitation, wing, pinion, rocketry, space travel, astronautics, orbital mechanics, orbiting, voyage, sail, cruise, passage, circumnavigation, periplus, headway, sternway, leeway, fairway, mariner, flight, trip, shuttle, run, airlift, sailing, volant, aerostatic, seafaring, nautical, maritime, naval, seagoing, coasting, afloat, navigable, aerial, aeronautic, grallatory, under way, under sail, under canvas, under steam, on the wing, in flight, in orbit, bon voyage, spread the thin oar and catch the driving gale.

VB sail, put to sea, take ship, get under way, set sail, spread sail, spread canvas, gather way, have way on, make sail, carry sail, plow the waves, plow the deep, plow the main, plow the ocean, walk the waters, navigate, warp, luff, scud, boom, kedge, drift, course, cruise, coast, hug the shore, hug the land, circumnavigate, ply the oar, row, paddle, pull, scull, punt, steam, swim, float, buffet the waves, ride the storm, skim, effleurer, dive, wade, fly, be wafted, hover, soar, flutter, jet, orbit, rocket, take wing, take a flight, take off, ascend, blast off, land, alight, wing one's flight, wing one's way, aviate, parachute, jump, glide.

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