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.

See Examples For:

paddywhack

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

From Overland by J. W. (John William) De Forest

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

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