paddle

plural paddles · alternative paidle

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. countableuncountableA single-bladed version is typically used on canoes and some other small boats.
   2. countableuncountableA double-bladed version with blades at each end of the shaft is used for kayaking.
2. countableuncountableThe use of a paddle to propel a boat; a session of paddling.

   We had a nice paddle this morning.

   1 more example

   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. countableuncountableA slat of a paddleboat's wheel.
4. countableuncountableA paddlewheel.
5. countableuncountableA blade of a waterwheel.
6. countabledateduncountablevideo gamesA game controller with a round wheel used to control player movement along one axis of the video screen.
7. UKcountableuncountableA meandering walk or dabble through shallow water, especially at the seaside.
8. countableuncountableA kitchen utensil shaped like a paddle and used for mixing, beating etc.
9. countableuncountableA broad, flat spanking implement.

   The paddle practically ousted the British cane for spankings in the independent US.

10. countableuncountabletable tennisA broad, flat device used in striking the ball, analogous to a racket in tennis.

    (UK)

    Synonyms: racket, bat

11. countableuncountableA 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

12. countableuncountableA 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.

13. countableuncountableIn a sluice, a panel that controls the flow of water.
14. countableuncountableA handheld electrode used for defibrillation or cardioversion.
15. countableuncountableA flipper in a pinball machine.
16. countableslanguncountableA person's hand.
17. countableuncountablemedicineA 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

    1 more example

    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

18. alternativeuncountablehobbiesAlternative form of padel.

present singular third person paddles · participle present paddling · participle past paddled · past paddled · alternative paidle

1. transitiveTo propel something through water with a paddle, oar, hands, etc.

   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, […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   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 […], →OCLC

   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. intransitiveTo row a boat with less than one's full capacity.
3. transitiveTo 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]

5. To tread upon; to trample.

present singular third person paddles · participle present paddling · participle past paddled · past paddled

1. UKintransitiveTo walk or dabble playfully in shallow water, especially at the seaside.
2. intransitiveTo dog paddle in water.
3. intransitiveTo toddle.

   […] little feet paddling round and about a man's bed and following wherever he went.

   1889, J. H. Riddell, A Terrible Vengeance

4. archaicintransitiveTo toy or caress using hands or fingers.

1. A surname.