paddle

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To move a boat through water using a paddle or your hands.

   We paddled the canoe slowly down the calm river.

2. 2
   noun

   A short pole with a wide flat end, used to move a small boat through water.

   She dipped the paddle into the water and pushed the kayak forward.

3. 3
   noun

   A short session of paddling a boat.

   We had a lovely paddle on the lake this morning.

4. 4
   noun

   A flat bat used to hit a ball in games like table tennis.

   He gripped the paddle and served the ball across the table.

Partly from the verb paddle ("to splash, dabble"; see below) and partly from Middle English padell (“small spade”). Middle English padell is from Medieval Latin padela, itself of uncertain origin: perhaps an alteration of Middle English *spaddle (see also spaddle), a diminutive of spade; or from Latin patella (“pan, plate”), the diminutive of patina, or a merger of the two. Compare Ancient Greek πηδάλιον (pēdálion, “rudder, steering oar”), derived from πηδόν (pēdón, “the blade of an oar; an oar”).

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