paddock

[ pad-uhk ]

See synonyms for paddock on Thesaurus.com

noun

a small, usually enclosed field near a stable or barn for pasturing or exercising animals.
the enclosure in which horses are saddled and mounted before a race.

Australian. any enclosed field or pasture.

verb (used with object)

to confine or enclose in or as in a paddock.

Origin of paddock

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

Words Nearby paddock

Other definitions for paddock (2 of 2)

paddock²

[ pad-uhk ]

noun

Archaic. a frog or toad.

Origin of paddock

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; see -ock

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use paddock in a sentence

The atmosphere of the stables and the breath of the blue grass paddock revived in her memory and lingered in her nostrils.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
It looked into a garden, whence a wicket-gate opened into a small paddock; all beyond was fine meadow-land and wood.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3) | Charles Dickens
On the highest point of the pass they met an inbound pack train belonging to the Thirty-six, in charge of one paddock.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail | Arthur R. Thompson
We had sixty horse-posts driven in the gate paddock; how many guests I cannot guess, perhaps 150.
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 25 (of 25) | Robert Louis Stevenson
Well, you young genl'men du have rare goings on down in the paddock, that you du.'
The Talking Horse | F. Anstey

British Dictionary definitions for paddock (1 of 2)

paddock¹

/ (ˈpædək) /

noun

a small enclosed field, often for grazing or training horses, usually near a house or stable
(in horse racing) the enclosure in which horses are paraded and mounted before a race, together with the accompanying rooms

(in motor racing) an area near the pits where cars are worked on before races
Australian and NZ any area of fenced land
Australian and NZ a playing field
the long paddock Australian informal a stockroute or roadside area offering feed to sheep and cattle in dry times

verb

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

Origin of paddock

C17: variant of dialect parrock, from Old English pearruc enclosure, of Germanic origin. See park

British Dictionary definitions for paddock (2 of 2)

paddock²

/ (ˈpædək) /

noun

archaic, or dialect a frog or toad: Also called (Scot): puddock

Origin of paddock

C12: from pad toad, probably from Old Norse padda; see -ock

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

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