paddy

1 of 2

noun (1)

pad·​dy ˈpa-dē 

variants or less commonly padi

plural paddies also padis

1

: rice

especially : threshed unmilled rice

2

: wet land in which rice is grown

Paddy

2 of 2

noun (2)

Pad·​dy ˈpa-dē 

plural Paddies

slang, often disparaging + offensive

: irishman

Examples of paddy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

My legs ferried me past terraced rice paddies, two goats chomping hay at a farmstead, and a woodworker’s shed of chiseled lucky owls. —Norma Meyer, Orange County Register, 15 May 2024

Travelers will have the opportunity to see water buffalo, lotus ponds, rice paddies, and other local flora and fauna. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Malay padi

Noun (2)

from Paddy, Hiberno-English nickname for Patrick

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1714, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

paddy

noun

pad·​dy ˈpad-ē 

plural paddies

: wet land in which rice is grown