Definition: paddle

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

paddle
     n 1: small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls
          in various games
     2: a blade of a paddle wheel or water wheel
     3: an instrument of punishment consisting of a flat board
     4: a short light oar used without an oarlock to propel a canoe
        or small boat [syn: boat paddle]
     v 1: propel with a paddle
     2: play in or as if in water, as of small children [syn: dabble,
         splash around]
     3: swim like a dog; in shallow water
     4: walk unsteadily, as of small children [syn: toddle, coggle,
         totter, dodder, waddle]
     5: give a spanking to; subject to a spanking [syn: spank, larrup]
     6: stir with a paddle

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Paddle \Pad"dle\, v. i. [Prob. for pattle, and a dim. of pat,
   v.; cf. also E. pad to tread, Prov. G. paddeln, padden, to
   walk with short steps, to paddle, G. patschen to splash,
   dash, dabble, F. patouiller to dabble, splash, fr. patte a
   paw. ?.]
   1. To use the hands or fingers in toying; to make caressing
      strokes. [Obs.] --Shak.

   2. To dabble in water with hands or feet; to use a paddle, or
      something which serves as a paddle, in swimming, in
      paddling a boat, etc.

            As the men were paddling for their lives.
                                                  --L'Estrange.

            While paddling ducks the standing lake desire.
                                                  --Gay.

Paddle \Pad"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Paddled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Paddling]
   1. To pat or stroke amorously, or gently.

            To be paddling palms and pinching fingers. --Shak.

   2. To propel with, or as with, a paddle or paddles.

   3. To pad; to tread upon; to trample. [Prov. Eng.]

Paddle \Pad"dle\, n. [See Paddle, v. i.]
   1. An implement with a broad blade, which is used without a
      fixed fulcrum in propelling and steering canoes and boats.

   2. The broad part of a paddle, with which the stroke is made;
      hence, any short, broad blade, resembling that of a
      paddle.

            Thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon. --Deut.
                                                  xxiii. 13.

   3. One of the broad boards, or floats, at the circumference
      of a water wheel, or paddle wheel.

   4. A small gate in sluices or lock gates to admit or let off
      water; -- also called clough.

   5. (Zo["o]l.) A paddle-shaped foot, as of the sea turtle.

   6. A paddle-shaped implement for string or mixing.

   7. [In this sense prob. for older spaddle, a dim. of spade.]
      See Paddle staff (b), below. [Prov. Eng.]

   Paddle beam (Shipbuilding), one of two large timbers
      supporting the spring beam and paddle box of a steam
      vessel.

   Paddle board. See Paddle, n., 3.

   Paddle box, the structure inclosing the upper part of the
      paddle wheel of a steam vessel.

   Paddle shaft, the revolving shaft which carries the paddle
      wheel of a steam vessel.

   Paddle staff.
      (a) A staff tipped with a broad blade, used by mole
          catchers. [Prov. Eng.]
      (b) A long-handled spade used to clean a plowshare; --
          called also plow staff. [Prov. Eng.]

   Paddle steamer, a steam vessel propelled by paddle wheels,
      in distinction from a screw propeller.

   Paddle wheel, the propelling wheel of a steam vessel,
      having paddles (or floats) on its circumference, and
      revolving in a vertical plane parallel to the vessel's
      length.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10)

Paddle

   A language for transformations leading from specification to
   program.  Used in the POPART programming environment
   generator.

   (1994-11-30)