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

paddock

²

/ 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. the long paddock 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

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

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

Origin of paddock²

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

Example Sentences

The atmosphere of the stables and the breath of the blue grass paddock revived in her memory and lingered in her nostrils.

From Project Gutenberg

It looked into a garden, whence a wicket-gate opened into a small paddock; all beyond was fine meadow-land and wood.

From Project Gutenberg

On the highest point of the pass they met an inbound pack train belonging to the Thirty-six, in charge of one Paddock.

From Project Gutenberg

We had sixty horse-posts driven in the gate paddock; how many guests I cannot guess, perhaps 150.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, you young genl'men du have rare goings on down in the paddock, that you du.'

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• oval
• track