Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Rice, especially in the husk, whether gathered or still in the field.
- noun A specially irrigated or flooded field where rice is grown.
from The Century Dictionary.
- Mean; poor; contemptible; low in manners or character.
- noun An Irishman.
- noun [lowercase] A sailors' name for the lesser sheath bill of Kerguelen Island, Chionis minor.
- noun [l. c] The ruddy duck, Erismatura rubida. Also
paddywhack . - noun [lowercase] Same as
paddywhack , 3. - noun Rice in the husk, whether in the field or gathered.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Bot.) Unhusked rice; -- commonly so called in the East Indies.
- noun (Zoöl.) See Java sparrow, under
Java . - noun Obsolescent A jocose or contemptuous name for an Irishman; -- usually considered offensive.
- adjective Low; mean; boorish; vagabond.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun
Rice , before it ismilled . - noun An
irrigated orflooded field whererice isgrown .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun an irrigated or flooded field where rice is grown
- noun (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Irish descent
- noun rice in the husk either gathered or still in the field
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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A rice paddy is drained and allowed to dry to just the right consistency.
Open BTUs William "Papa" Meloney 2007
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Then we called the paddy wagon, and I gave the order to arrest them.
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A group of farmers have created 'murals' by planting rice in different colors in Japanese paddy fields
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"All the summer-sown crops in north India will be down by 30% except paddy, which is yet to be sown in a big way," Krishan Bir Chaudhury, president of Bharatiya Krishak Samaj (Indian Farmer's Society) said.
Faltering July Rains Scorch India's Summer Crop Hopes Arpan Mukherjee 2009
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Yes, in those days, riding in the "Black Maria," as they used to call the paddy wagon, meant more than it does today.
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“Something that will convince me not to vanquish your butts or call the paddy wagon,” Paige said.
The Queen’s Curse Emma Harrison 2005
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“Something that will convince me not to vanquish your butts or call the paddy wagon,” Paige said.
The Queen’s Curse Emma Harrison 2005
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Rice is conventionally grown under conditions of inundation, when it is referred to as paddy (the term is also used for the bunded plot in which rice is grown) or as wet-land or low-land rice.
Chapter 7 1995
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Of all the common agricultural wastes, rice husks (also called paddy husks) yield the largest quantity of ash - around 20 % by weight - which also has the highest silica content - around 93 % by weight.
Chapter 4 1988
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A simple but rude mill is in use in Siam, and many parts of India, for hulling paddy, which is similar to those used 4,000 years ago.
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I have been on the receiving end of the derogatory slur “Plastic Paddy”, which is often used to undermine people’s lived experiences and cultural identity. But equally, the insult has been reclaimed by the diaspora who are proud to be Irish outside of Ireland. Particularly among the Birmingham Irish.
The insult Plastic Paddy has been reclaimed by the diaspora who are proud to be Irish Annie Driver 2023
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The “plastic paddy” is a phrase used to refer to people born outside of Ireland who claim an Irish identity while relying on stereotypes or being ignorant to things actually happening in Ireland.
Irish Americans: The Plight of the Plastic Paddy Breanna Reynolds 2025
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A plastic paddy is someone who is some combination of: not born in Ireland, not raised in Ireland, never been to Ireland, doesn’t understand Irish culture, cannot pronounce Irish words (if you cannot say Youghal … 🤷🏻♂️).
"Plastic Paddy" hopefulHeidegger 2025
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I’ve even encountered plastic paddies in Irish bars in the US. One tried to talk shit to me because I’m English. He literally had no idea what he was talking about and was about as cultured as cheese in a can.
Plastic Paddy Starter Pack AlbatrossTough3013 2025
chained_bear commented on the word paddy
"Paddy O’Rafferty," "Paddy Doyle’s Boots," "Paddy O’Toole," and "Paddy on a Handcar" are all folk tunes.
"A Pistol for Paddy Garcia" and "Poor Paddy" are by the Pogues, but the latter is very similar to a traditional song called "Paddy on the Railway."
February 10, 2008
reesetee commented on the word paddy
Paddy for days! I'm suprised this one didn't come up sooner. :-)
February 11, 2008
sarra commented on the word paddy
A tantrum. cf. paddywhack. Even the OED isn't sure quite why the word is used this way, though.
February 21, 2008
yarb commented on the word paddy
I guess the sense of tantrum is related to (maybe from) paddywagon and padded cell.
August 30, 2008
bilby commented on the word paddy
Nigerian English - friend.
June 22, 2009