1. [n]  a short light oar used without an oarlock to propel a canoe or small boat
2. [n]  an instrument of punishment consisting of a flat board
3. [n]  a blade of a paddle wheel or water wheel
4. [n]  small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
5. [v]  stir with a paddle
6. [v]  give a spanking to; subject to a spanking
7. [v]  walk unsteadily, as of small children
8. [v]  propel with a paddle
9. [v]  swim like a dog; in shallow water
10. [v]  play in or as if in water, as of small children

1. \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.
   

2. \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.]
   

3. \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.
   

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