paddy

¹ American  

[pad-ee] / ˈpæd i /

noun

plural

paddies

1. a rice field.

2. rice, especially in the husk, either uncut or gathered.

---

Paddy ² American  

[pad-ee] / ˈpæd i /

noun

plural

Paddies

1. Slang: Often Offensive. an Irishman or a person of Irish descent.

2. a male given name.

---

paddy ¹ British  

/ ˈpædɪ /

noun

1. Also called: paddy field.  a field planted with rice

2. rice as a growing crop or when harvested but not yet milled

---

Paddy ² British  

/ ˈpædɪ /

noun

1. (sometimes not capital) an informal, often derogatory, name for an Irishman

---

paddy ³ British  

/ ˈpædɪ /

noun

1. informal a fit of temper

---

Sensitive Note

This term is used as a neutral nickname or term of address for an Irishman, though it may be perceived as insulting.

Etymology

Origin of paddy¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Malay padi “unhusked rice”; currency of this word in the English of India perhaps due to early association with Kannada batta, bhatta “unhusked rice” (from Indo-Aryan; compare Hindi, Marathi bhāt “cooked rice,” Sanskrit bhakhta “food, meal”)

Origin of Paddy²

Familiar variant of Irish Padraig Patrick; -y ²

Example Sentences

Managed environments such as paddy rice fields and inland waters also contributed significantly.

From Science Daily • Feb. 10, 2026

"As the planet becomes warmer and wetter, methane emissions from wetlands, inland waters, and paddy rice systems will increasingly shape near-term climate change," said Tian.

From Science Daily • Feb. 10, 2026

A number of them are bordered by mountains, cities or paddy fields, making it harder to break out of the beach perimeter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

The island's formerly verdant south has been transformed by a tourism boom that brought jobs and economic benefits, but also paved over and built on paddy fields and coconut groves that once provided drainage.

From Barron's • Oct. 20, 2025

He did not reply at once, but sat down cross-legged, looking out absently beyond the small courtyard to the cool green of the paddy fields.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya