paddock

¹

[pad-uhk]

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.

verb (used with object)

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

paddock

²

[pad-uhk]

noun

1. Archaic.,  a frog or toad.

paddock

¹

/ 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

verb

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

paddock

²

/ ˈpædək /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of paddock¹

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

Origin of paddock²

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

Example Sentences

The two Wales teams train side-by-side at a hotel complex west of Cardiff, a pristine rugby paddock juxtaposed with a football pitch.

Read more on Barron's

After explaining the potential prehistoric material beneath the sheep paddock and mentioning that fossil turtle shells had already been found nearby, the property owners eagerly agreed.

Read more on Science Daily

After three wins in the last six races, the Dutchman is third and threatening as several paddock observers have criticised Piastri's drop in form.

Read more on Barron's

The paddock at Del Mar was packed on Monday with owners, trainers and racing officials.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Will it be at pre-season testing or are there any other ways to find out aside from paddock rumours?

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• oval 
• track