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

Then she hauled herself out of her chair and waddled to the door and gently took Mr. McGinity by the elbow.

From Literature

One of them seemed to catch his eye and started waddling toward him.

From Literature

“Don’t feel bad for me. I like living on my own. Move on as the wind blows, eat when I want, garbage as far as the opossum can waddle. Life is good.”

From Literature

King got into the spirit, mocking the way Riggs waddled around court like a duck.

From BBC

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

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• toddle
• totter
• wiggle
• wobble