paddywhack

American

[pad-ee-hwak, -wak] / ˈpæd iˌʰwæk, -ˌwæk /

Also paddywack

noun

Informal. a spanking.

verb (used with object)

Informal. to spank or beat.

paddywhack British

/ ˈpædɪˌwæk /

noun

another word for paddy 2
a spanking or smack

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of paddywhack

1775–85; Paddy ( def. ) + whack ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Paddywhack was the old Irish horse which had carried him so long, and has been mentioned before.

From Project Gutenberg

"Ah, you paddywhack!" growled the skipper.

From Project Gutenberg

"Git in, you paddywhack," said Glover to Sweeny.

From Project Gutenberg

"You dum paddywhack," he presently reopened, "what d'ye break yer paddle for?"

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023