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Glite Dictionary
boat paddle

boat paddle

2.0
A short, light oar used by hand to move a canoe or small boat
  • noun
  • /boʊt ˈpædəl/
translation icon : remo

Examples

  • They travel twice as far to get there as some who can paddle straight from one side, but it is nearly impossible today to find someone really good with a boat paddle.

    Blog text (3)

  • He used his boat paddle to steer the canoe through the calm waters of the lake.

  • After taking a break, she grabbed her boat paddle and resumed her journey down the river.

  • The instructor demonstrated how to properly use a boat paddle before letting the students take turns.

Synonyms

paddle
vsboat paddle
30 2.5

A short light oar used to move a canoe

is identical in meaning but its name adds a word naming the vessel
scull
vsboat paddle
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A short oar that a single rower holds in one hand

is a single short oar used alone rather than as a paired set

How Long

sweep oar
  • Specialized
9.3
oar
42 1.0
boat paddle
2.0

Surface Forms

boat paddle singular
boat paddles plural

Morphology

boat + paddle

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'boat' (a small craft) and 'paddle' (a single-bladed oar): it denotes a paddle used with a boat. This noun–noun compound follows a transparent compositional pattern common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Boat paddle is the name for the short, light oar you hold to push water and move a canoe or small boat. Picture sitting in a small boat and using one flat blade, the paddle, to push the water with your hands. That simple image explains why boat paddle means 'a short, light oar used without an oarlock' and is used to move and steer the boat.