paddle wheel

noun

: a wheel with paddles around its circumference used to propel a boat

Examples of paddle wheel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Just trade the trains of the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad for the paddle wheel of Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours.) Don't Miss Most visitors hit up the potholes, take a pic at a cliff, and leave. Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026 Each holds 20 passengers and one captain who powers the craft via a pedal-drive paddle wheel. Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 The Catawba Queen, a Mississippi River paddle wheel boat, and the 93-foot Lady of the Lake luxury yacht continue to draw curiosity from the boating public. Joe Marusak march 13, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026 That order sent the paddle wheel going and the deckhand was tragically killed. Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paddle wheel

Word History

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paddle wheel was in 1685

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paddle wheel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paddle%20wheel. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

paddle wheel

noun
: a wheel with boards around its outer edge used to move a vessel

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