English▸ noun a short pole with a broad blade at one or both ends, used without an oarlock to move a small boat or canoe through the water.
▪ an act of using a paddle in a boat:
a gentle paddle on sluggish water.
▪ North American a short-handled bat used in various ball games, especially table tennis.
▪ a paddle-shaped instrument used for mixing food or for stirring or mixing in industrial processes.
▪ North American informal a paddle-shaped instrument used for administering corporal punishment.
▪ each of the boards fitted around the circumference of a paddle wheel or mill wheel.
▪ a flat array of solar cells projecting from a spacecraft.
▪ the fin or flipper of an aquatic mammal or bird.
▪ Medicine a plastic-covered electrode used in cardiac stimulation.
▪ short for bidding paddle.
▸ verb
1 [no object, with adverbial of direction] move through the water in a boat using a paddle or paddles:
he paddled along the coast.
▪ [with object] propel (a small boat or canoe) with a paddle or paddles:
he was teaching trainees to paddle canoes.
▪ [with object] travel along (a stretch of water) by paddling:
I had paddled the river through other hot July spells.
▪ (of bird or other animal) swim with short fast strokes:
the swan paddled away.
– ORIGIN late Middle English (denoting a small spade-like implement): of unknown origin. Current senses date from the 17th century.