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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
To be sure, a few in the fleet of eight are no longer steam powered, but the big red paddle wheels on either side remain a romantic element. John Oseid, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Thousands of plastic paddle wheels small enough to fit in the palm of your hand accommodate two kinds of helpful bacteria, which cover the surfaces in a thin film. IEEE Spectrum, 3 June 2013 Famous Queens Landing boats The waterfront site was most notably known for its 149-passenger Catawba Queen, a Mississippi River paddle wheel boat that offered sightseeing and dinner cruises. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2025 The paddle wheel boat was off at 4 knots, heading downtown on the Cumberland River for the eclipse’s peak. Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 8 Apr. 2024 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 12 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

paddle wheel

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

More from Merriam-Webster on paddle wheel

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