Definition of "paddle"

paddle¹

/ˈpædl̩/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural paddles
1. A two-handed implement consisting of a shaft with one or two blades attached to the end(s) used to propel a canoe, kayak or a small boat. A paddle is unattached to the boat and freely operated with the hands, compared with an oar which is attached to the boat at a pivot point.
  1. 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.
2. The use of a paddle to propel a boat; a session of paddling.
  Quotations
  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
3. A slat of a paddleboat's wheel.
4. A paddlewheel.
5. A blade of a waterwheel.
6. (video games, dated) A game controller with a round wheel used to control player movement along one axis of the video screen.
7. (Britain) A meandering walk or dabble through shallow water, especially at the seaside.
8. A kitchen utensil shaped like a paddle and used for mixing, beating etc.
9. A broad, flat spanking implement.
10. (table tennis) A broad, flat device used in striking the ball, analogous to a racket in tennis.
11. A flat board with a number of holes or indentations, used to carry small alcoholic drinks such as shots.
  Quotations
  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
12. A flat limb of an aquatic animal, adapted for swimming.
13. In a sluice, a panel that controls the flow of water.
14. A handheld electrode used for defibrillation or cardioversion.
15. (slang) A person's hand.
16. (medicine) A flap of attached skin that has been cut away from a wound.
  Quotations
  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
17. (sports, uncountable) Alternative form of padel
verb
third-person singular simple present paddles, present participle paddling, simple past and past participle paddled
1. (transitive) To propel something through water with a paddle, oar, hands, etc.
  Quotations
  as the Men were Paddling for their Lives
  1692, 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, […]
  while paddling ducks the standing lake desire
  1714, J[ohn] Gay, “(please specify the page number(s))”, in The Shepherd’s Week. In Six Pastorals, London: […] R. Burleigh […]
  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, […]
2. (intransitive) To row a boat with less than one's full capacity.
3. (transitive) To spank with a paddle.
  Quotations
  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.
  Quotations
  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, [Act I, scene ii]
5. To tread upon; to trample.

paddle²

/ˈpædl̩/

verb
third-person singular simple present paddles, present participle paddling, simple past and past participle paddled
1. (intransitive, Britain) To walk or dabble playfully in shallow water, especially at the seaside.
2. (intransitive) To dog paddle in water.
3. (intransitive) To toddle.
  Quotations
  […] little feet paddling round and about a man's bed and following wherever he went.
  1889, J. H. Riddell, A Terrible Vengeance
4. (archaic, intransitive) To toy or caress using hands or fingers.

Definition of "paddle"

paddle1

noun

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verb

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paddle2

verb

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paddle¹

paddle²