n. [ OE. adel, AS. adela, mud. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Liquid filth; mire. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Lees; dregs. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having lost the power of development, and become rotten, as eggs; putrid. Hence: Unfruitful or confused, as brains; muddled. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Addled p. pr. & vb. n. Addling ] To make addle; to grow addle; to muddle; as, he addled his brain. “Their eggs were addled.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ OE. adlen, adilen, to gain, acquire; prob. fr. Icel. öðlask to acquire property, akin to oðal property. Cf. Allodial. ] 1. To earn by labor. [ Prov. Eng. ] Forby. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To thrive or grow; to ripen. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Kill ivy, else tree will addle no more. Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. A foolish or dull-witted fellow. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Dull-witted; stupid. “The addle-brained Oberstein.” Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dull and addle-pated. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Stupidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ See Addle, to earn. ] Earnings. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. [ Pref. a- + straddle. ] In a straddling position; astride; bestriding; as, to sit astraddle a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To bestride. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] (Zool.) See Lumpfish. [ Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Daddled p. pr. & vb. n. Daddling. ] [ Prob. freq. of dade. ] To toddle; to walk unsteadily, like a child or an old man; hence, to do anything slowly or feebly. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Cf. Fiddle, Fiddle-faddle. ] To trifle; to toy. -- v. t. To fondle; to dandle. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A trifle; trifling talk; nonsense. [ Colloq. ] Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To talk nonsense. [ Colloq. ] Ford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A saddle to which loads can be attached. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ . } See under 2d Pack. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Prob. for pattle, and a dim. of pat, v.; cf. also E. pad to tread, Prov. G. paddeln, padden, to walk with short steps, to paddle, G. patschen to splash, dash, dabble, F. patouiller to dabble, splash, fr. patte a paw. √21. ] 1. To use the hands or fingers in toying; to make caressing strokes. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dabble in water with hands or feet; to use a paddle, or something which serves as a paddle, in swimming, in paddling a boat, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

As the men were paddling for their lives. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

While paddling ducks the standing lake desire. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Paddled p. pr. & vb. n. Paddling 1. To pat or stroke amorously, or gently. [ Obsolescent ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To be paddling palms and pinching fingers. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To propel with, or as with, a paddle or paddles. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To pad; to tread upon; to trample. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To spank with a paddle or as if with a paddle; -- usually as a disciplinary punishment of children. [ PJC ]

5. To mix (a viscous liquid) by stirring or beating with a paddle. [ PJC ]

n. [ See Paddle, v. i. ] 1. An implement with a broad blade, which is used without a fixed fulcrum in propelling and steering canoes and boats. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The broad part of a paddle, with which the stroke is made; hence, any short, broad blade, resembling that of a paddle, such as that used in table tennis. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon. Deut. xxiii. 13. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of the broad boards, or floats, at the circumference of a water wheel, or paddle wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A small gate in sluices or lock gates to admit or let off water; -- also called clough. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) A paddle-shaped foot, as of the sea turtle. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A paddle-shaped implement for stirring or mixing. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. [ In this sense prob. for older spaddle, a dim. of spade. ] See Paddle staff (b), below. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Paddle beam (Shipbuilding), one of two large timbers supporting the spring beam and paddle box of a steam vessel. --
Paddle board. See Paddle, n., 3. --
Paddle shaft, the revolving shaft which carries the paddle wheel of a steam vessel. --
Paddle staff. (a) A staff tipped with a broad blade, used by mole catchers. [ Prov. Eng. ] (b) A long-handled spade used to clean a plowshare; -- called also plow staff. [ Prov. Eng. ] --
Paddle steamer, a steam vessel propelled by paddle wheels, in distinction from a screw propeller. --
Paddle wheel, the propelling wheel of a steam vessel, having paddles (or floats) on its circumference, and revolving in a vertical plane parallel to the vessel's length. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a wooden covering for the upper part of the paddle wheel of a steam vessel. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) The lumpfish. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool) A large ganoid fish (Polyodon spathula) found in the rivers of the Mississippi Valley. It has a long spatula-shaped snout. Called also duck-billed cat, and spoonbill sturgeon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, paddles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The light elastic wood of the Aspidosperma excelsum, a tree of Guiana having a fluted trunk readily split into planks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. G. räder, rädel, sieve, or perhaps E. reed. ] 1. A long, flexible stick, rod, or branch, which is interwoven with others, between upright posts or stakes, in making a kind of hedge or fence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A hedge or fence made with raddles; -- called also raddle hedge. Todd. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An instrument consisting of a wooden bar, with a row of upright pegs set in it, used by domestic weavers to keep the warp of a proper width, and prevent tangling when it is wound upon the beam of the loom. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To interweave or twist together. [ 1913 Webster ]

Raddling or working it up like basket work. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Ruddle. ] A red pigment used in marking sheep, and in some mechanical processes; ruddle. “A raddle of rouge.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To mark or paint with, or as with, raddle. “Whitened and raddled old women.” Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. sadel, AS. sadol; akin to D. zadel, G. sattel, OHG. satal, satul, Icel. söðull, Dan. & Sw. sadel; cf. Russ. siedlo; all perh. ultimately from the root of E. sit. ] 1. A seat for a rider, -- usually made of leather, padded to span comfortably a horse's back, furnished with stirrups for the rider's feet to rest in, and fastened in place with a girth; also, a seat for the rider on a bicycle or tricycle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A padded part of a harness which is worn on a horse's back, being fastened in place with a girth. It serves various purposes, as to keep the breeching in place, carry guides for the reins, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A piece of meat containing a part of the backbone of an animal with the ribs on each side; as, a saddle of mutton, of venison, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) A block of wood, usually fastened to some spar, and shaped to receive the end of another spar. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mach.) A part, as a flange, which is hollowed out to fit upon a convex surface and serve as a means of attachment or support. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Arch.) The threshold of a door, when a separate piece from the floor or landing; -- so called because it spans and covers the joint between two floors. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Phys. Geog.) A ridge connected two higher elevations; a low point in the crest line of a ridge; a col. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. (Mining) A formation of gold-bearing quartz occurring along the crest of an anticlinal fold, esp. in Australia. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Saddle bar (Arch.), one the small iron bars to which the lead panels of a glazed window are secured. Oxf. Gloss. --
Saddle gall (Far.), a sore or gall upon a horse's back, made by the saddle. --
Saddle girth, a band passing round the body of a horse to hold the saddle in its place. --
saddle horse, a horse suitable or trained for riding with a saddle. --
Saddle joint, in sheet-metal roofing, a joint formed by bending up the edge of a sheet and folding it downward over the turned-up edge of the next sheet. --
Saddle roof, (Arch.), a roof having two gables and one ridge; -- said of such a roof when used in places where a different form is more common; as, a tower surmounted by a saddle roof. Called also saddleback roof. --
Saddle shell (Zool.), any thin plicated bivalve shell of the genera Placuna and Anomia; -- so called from its shape. Called also saddle oyster. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Saddled p. pr. & vb. n. Saddling ] [ AS. sadelian. ] 1. To put a saddle upon; to equip (a beast) for riding. “saddle my horse.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abraham rose up early, . . . and saddled his ass. Gen. xxii. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: To fix as a charge or burden upon; to load; to encumber; as, to saddle a town with the expense of bridges and highways. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Same as Saddle-backed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Saddleback roof. (Arch.) See Saddle roof, under Saddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Anything saddle-backed; esp., a hill or ridge having a concave outline at the top. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) (a) The harp seal. (b) The great blackbacked gull (Larus marinus). (c) The larva of a bombycid moth (Empretia stimulea) which has a large, bright green, saddle-shaped patch of color on the back. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having the outline of the upper part concave like the seat of a saddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having a low back and high neck, as a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. Bags, usually of leather, united by straps or a band, formerly much used by horseback riders to carry small articles, one bag hanging on each side. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. sadelboga. ] The bow or arch in the front part of a saddle, or the pieces which form the front. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A cloth under a saddle, and extending out behind; a housing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having a broad patch of color across the back, like a saddle; saddle-backed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who makes saddles. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A harp seal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The materials for making saddles and harnesses; the articles usually offered for sale in a saddler's shop. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The trade or employment of a saddler. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Shaped like a saddle. Specifically: (a) (Bot.) Bent down at the sides so as to give the upper part a rounded form. Henslow. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) (Geol.) Bent on each side of a mountain or ridge, without being broken at top; -- said of strata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The frame of a saddle. [ 1913 Webster ]

For saddletree scarce reached had he,
His journey to begin. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A saddle for women, in which the rider sits with both feet on one side of the animal mounted. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sidesaddle flower (Bot.), a plant with hollow leaves and curiously shaped flowers; -- called also huntsman's cup. See Sarracenia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Hurtful. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Dim. of scath. ] Hurt; damage. [ Obs. or Prov. Eng. ] Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Skedaddled p. pr. & vb. n. Skedaddling ] [ Of uncertain etymology. ] To betake one's self to flight, as if in a panic; to flee; to run away. [ Slang, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A little spade. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To leave the staddles, or saplings, of, as a wood when it is cut. [ R. ] Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form into staddles, as hay. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. staðol, staðul, a foundation, firm seat; akin to E. stand. √163. See Stand, v. i. ] [ Formerly written stadle. ] 1. Anything which serves for support; a staff; a prop; a crutch; a cane. [ 1913 Webster ]

His weak steps governing
And aged limbs on cypress stadle stout. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The frame of a stack of hay or grain. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A row of dried or drying hay, etc. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A small tree of any kind, especially a forest tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In America, trees are called staddles from the time that they are three or four years old till they are six or eight inches in diameter, or more. This is also the sense in which the word is used by Bacon and Tusser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Straddled p. pr. & vb. n. Straddling ] [ Freq. from the root of stride. ] 1. To part the legs wide; to stand or to walk with the legs far apart. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stand with the ends staggered; -- said of the spokes of a wagon wheel where they join the hub. [ 1913 Webster ]