paddy

1 of 2

noun (1)

pad·​dy ˈpa-dē 

variants or less commonly padi

plural paddies also padis

1

: rice

especially : threshed unmilled rice

2

: wet land in which rice is grown

Paddy

2 of 2

noun (2)

Pad·​dy ˈpa-dē 

plural Paddies

slang, often disparaging + offensive

: irishman

Examples of paddy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The drive to the resort provides a nice overview of Ubud, the closest town to Sayan, which is lined with shops and cafes (and a popular market) just steps from working rice paddies and local Hindu temples and shrines. —Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2025

In response, a network of organizations called the Migratory Bird Conservation Partnership began paying rice farmers to make paddies more habitable for birds. —Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan. 2025

The train zips through verdant farmland and swampy rice paddies and into the darkness of mountain tunnels. —Christine Chung, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025

Medaka–aka the Japanese rice fish–are only about 1.4 inches long and can be found in rice paddies, ponds, marshes, quiet streams, and tide pools in Japan. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Malay padi

Noun (2)

from Paddy, Hiberno-English nickname for Patrick

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1714, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

paddy

noun

pad·​dy ˈpad-ē 

plural paddies

: wet land in which rice is grown