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Glite Dictionary
paddle box

paddle box

9.9
A wooden cover around the top of a paddle wheel on a steamboat that protects it from water spray
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : caja de palas
  • A broken paddle box can cause water to splash onto the deck.

Examples

  • The old steamboat's paddle box was carefully restored to its original condition.

  • Engineers inspected the paddle box for signs of rot before the ferry could operate.

  • The paddle box was beautifully crafted from mahogany.

  • Many paddle boxes were painted in bright colors.

  • The engineers meticulously examined the paddle box to ensure it was seaworthy before the steamboat's next voyage.

  • After years of wear, the steamboat's paddle box needed repairs to prevent water from splashing onto passengers.

  • To protect the engine, the crew maintained the paddle box to minimize spray while navigating through rough waters.

Synonyms

paddle-box
vspaddle box
  • Archaic
9.6

A wooden cover that protects a ship's paddle wheel from water and dirt

is used mainly on steamboats rather than on various other vessels

Surface Forms

paddle box singular
paddle boxes plural

Morphology

paddle + box

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'paddle' + 'box' — a box-like enclosure associated with a paddlewheel — so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a protective/container structure around the paddle. Although somewhat technical/maritime, the compound is literal and follows straightforward English noun-noun composition, making it readily comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Paddle box comes from old steamboats. It was a wooden 'box' built around the big paddle, the wheel that moved the boat, to stop water from splashing on the deck. So, paddle box means the wooden cover around the paddle that protected it and kept spray off the deck.