waddle

American  

[wod-l] / ˈwɒd l /

verb (used without object)

waddled, waddling

1. to walk with short steps, swaying or rocking from side to side, as a duck.

2. to move in any similar, slow, rocking manner; wobble.

   The ship waddled into port.

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noun

1. an act or instance of waddling, especially a waddling gait.

waddle British  

/ ˈwɒdəl /

verb

1. to walk with short steps, rocking slightly from side to side

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noun

1. a swaying gait or motion

Other Word Forms

• unwaddling adjective
• waddler noun
• waddling adjective
• waddlingly adverb
• waddly adjective

Etymology

Origin of waddle

1350–1400; Middle English; wade, -le; compare German watteln

Example Sentences

Play, a four-year-old French bulldog, waddled down the street in Noho.

From The Wall Street Journal

The usually vain and anxious mother-to-be spent her afternoons waddling contentedly through the new tulip garden.

From Literature

Her waddling gait was a snail’s pace compared to the ostrich’s swift departure, but for Mrs. Clarke it was remarkably quick.

From Literature

Mrs. Clarke had been upstairs looking for something, but now she waddled down to see what all the ruckus was about.

From Literature

Then the goslings waddled over and started inspecting their robotic grandmother.

From Literature

Related Words

• toddle
• totter
• wiggle
• wobble