paddy

plural paddies

1. countableuncountableRough or unhusked rice, either before it is milled or as a crop to be harvested.First known use 17th c.

   Taking out a handful of paddy the old woman exclaimed, “Look how good this paddy is! It is called Malbhog – it makes excellent puffed rice.”

   2011, Arupa Patangia Kalita, translated by Deepika Phukan, The Story of Felanee

   Synonyms: palay

2. countableA paddy field, a rice paddy; an irrigated or flooded field where rice is grown.First known use 20th c.

comparative more paddy · superlative most paddy

1. obsoleteLow; mean; boorish; vagabond.

   Now, now, we are getting very paddy today, aren't we John?

   2015, Brian Keenan, An Evil Cradling, page 197

   2 more examples

   Even after the expiration of four months the condition of the paddy persons continued most destitute. The English soldiers became mere barefoot starving beggars in the streets[…]

   1860, John Lothrop Motley, The United Netherlands

   Becca wrote to Lizzie of her brother's incessant demands: Suthie came to me in a very paddy state and said 'Now ... you must bind a book for me.'

   1995, Maureen Borland, D.S. MacColl: Painter, Poet, Art Critic, page 41

plural paddies

1. A fit of temper; a tantrum.

   throw a paddy etc.

   1 more example

   I like the story of the Emperor Frederick who got into a paddy with his cook, and shouted: 'I am the Emperor, and I want dumplings.'

   2013, Mike Brown, Adventures with Czech George, page 17

   Synonyms: tantrum, catfit, conniption, conniption fit, dummy spit, headfit, hissy, hissy fit

2. slangAfrican-American VernacularA white person.

   You know what I like best about paddy chicks? They give good head. Black broads don’t know nothing about giving head. I don’t know why. Might be it has something to do with some ancient tribal custom.

   2000, Requiem For a Dream, spoken by Big Tim (Keith David)

3. EnglandcolloquialA labourer's assistant or workmate.
4. A drill used in boring wells, with cutters that expand on pressure.

plural paddies

1. A snowy sheathbill.

plural Paddys

1. An Irish nickname for Patrick.

   ...He jumped into the water as frisky as a whale Swam around the U-boat wagging his little tail He upped with his horn and he stuck it in the boat And sent them all to Heligoland did Paddy McGinty's goat...

   1917, Bert Lee et al., Paddy McGinty's Goat

plural Paddies

1. offensiveslangsometimesAn Irish person.

   It is in this context of Irishphobia that the racist caricature of the drunken, violent, ignorant Paddy was established.

   1996, Pierre L. Van Den Berghe, Ernest Cashmore, Ellis Cashmore, Dictionary of Race and Ethnic Relations, page 182

   Synonyms: Pat