Paddle

The NOUN paddle is a tool, originally a boat propulsion implement for mixing or pushing against liquids, typically in order to propel a boat. Paddles for use in canoes consist of a wooden, fibreglass or metal rod (the shaft) with a handle on one end and a rigid sheet (the blade) on the other end. Paddles for use in kayaks are longer, with a blade on each end, and usually no handles.

Related Topics:
Propulsion - Liquid - Boat - Canoe - Wood - Fibreglass - Metal - Kayak

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The paddle is held with two hands, some distance apart from each other. For normal use, it is drawn through the water in a backwards direction. The two blades of a kayak paddle are dipped alternately on either side of the kayak. A paddle is distinguished from an oar in that the paddle is held in the user's hands and completely supported by the paddler, whereas an oar is primarily supported by the boat.

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On mechanical paddle steamers, the motorized paddling is not done with a mass of paddles or oars but by rotating one or a few paddle wheels (rather the inverse of a water mill)

Related Topics:
Paddle steamer - Water mill

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• The word paddle is also used for a swim style making a similar motion but only using the limbs of the swimmer, as in dog paddle swimming

A paddle may also be another device of roughly similar shape and hard materials, including:

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• A racquet or bat, as in table tennis
• For the instrument of corporal punishment consisting of a short handle and a longer flat surface (sometimes with holes to reduce air resistance), as used to inflict solid spankings in schools, households, fraternities, and sororities, see paddle (spanking)
• For the computer/video game controller, see paddle (game controller)