paddock

¹ American  

[pad-uhk] / ˈpæd ək /

noun

1. a small, usually enclosed field near a stable or barn for pasturing or exercising animals.

2. the enclosure in which horses are saddled and mounted before a race.

3. Australian. any enclosed field or pasture.

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verb (used with object)

1. to confine or enclose in or as in a paddock.

paddock ² American  

[pad-uhk] / ˈpæd ək /

noun

1. Archaic. a frog or toad.

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paddock ¹ British  

/ ˈpædək /

noun

1. a small enclosed field, often for grazing or training horses, usually near a house or stable

2. (in horse racing) the enclosure in which horses are paraded and mounted before a race, together with the accompanying rooms

3. (in motor racing) an area near the pits where cars are worked on before races

4. any area of fenced land

5. a playing field

6. informal a stockroute or roadside area offering feed to sheep and cattle in dry times

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verb

1. (tr) to confine (horses, etc) in a paddock

paddock ² British  

/ ˈpædək /

noun

1. Also called (Scot): puddock.  archaic a frog or toad

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Etymology

Origin of paddock¹

1540–50; variant of Middle English parrok, with r heard as flapped d; Old English pearroc enclosure, originally fence. See park

Origin of paddock²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English paddok(e), derivative of early Middle English pad “toad” (compare English dialectal pad “frog”); akin to Dutch, Low German pad, Old Norse padda; -ock

Example Sentences

The sleeker car has attracted much attention in the paddock because it has much narrower sidepods compared to testing in Barcelona two weeks ago.

From Seattle Times

The result: There’s a 90% vaccination rate throughout the entire paddock.

From Seattle Times

With every new animal family member, we create new paddocks and pastures.

From Seattle Times

With the Velociraptors showing signs of intelligence and responding to Owen Grady’s command, Claire has designed a new ride - a roller coaster right in the middle of a Raptor paddock.

From Fox News

The bus, which had most recently been used for school transport in Dartford, is now enjoying its retirement in a former horses' paddock in Bramshott, Hampshire, where Mr Johnson has spent three years refurbishing it.

From BBC

Related Words

• oval
• track