A paddle is a flat, usually wooden or plastic tool used to move a boat through water by hand, or a small bat used in games like table tennis.
Probably from Middle English *padell* meaning “small spade,” from *pad* “shovel” plus the diminutive -el. The sense shifted to tools that push water instead of soil.
A paddle turns human muscle into motion over water—a tiny engine you hold in your hands. The same basic shape shows up in boats, mixers, and games, proving how powerful a flat surface on a stick can be.
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