puddlyadj.

1559 P. Morwyng tr. C. Gesner Treasure of Euonymus 75 They will driue down the pudly matter [L. turbulentam materiam] to the bottom.

1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique iv. xvi. 650 In a pudlie and troubled water.

a1618 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Diuine Weekes & Wks. (1621) ii. iii. 305 [God] will change the pebbles of our puddly thought to orient pearls.

1721 N. Robinson Compleat Treat. Gravel & Stone 267 The Urine is puddley, thick, and muddy.

1734 Pickle Herring to Faulkner in J. Swift Wks. (1768) XIII. 70 Is it not sufficient to see a luminary like this now shining in a meridian lustre, but anon set for ever in a puddly cloud?

1799 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. (new ed.) II. 108/1 The liquor was of middling strength; it was very high colored and foul, but not puddly.

1861 ‘A. H. Clington’ Frank O'Donnell 69 O to see him tossing in the mud and his fine coat and cap all puddly.

1925 D. H. Lawrence Refl. Death Porcupine 182 As for the yokel, his little stream may have flowed out of commonplace little hills, and been ready to mingle with the streams of any easy, puddly little yokeless.

1931 Econ. Geogr. 7 168/2 They do not crumble immediately, but break down by degrees until the soils become increasingly puddly and gummy when wet.

1942 Econ. Geogr. 18 222/2 Beyond the villages, the lines of flow, growing thin and puddly, continue their inroad toward the hinterland.

1843 ‘R. Carlton’ New Purchase I. xviii. 146 By bed-time affairs had become dryish. Still, much vapour hung in our atmosphere; and towards the arctic regions of the cabin, matters were puddly.

1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. vii. 167 Plashing in the cold puddly ruts.

1889 J. K. Jerome Three Men in Boat ii You find a place..not quite so puddly as other places.

1918 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 3 Feb. 13/1 Every footstep made a puddle... The puddly footstep which made her stop..was a long draggy step.

1977 P. Leach Baby & Child v. 308 Nappies... Just suggest casually that he would be more comfortable without them while he plays... Do realize that this is a puddly stage.

2004 C. Connelly Attention All Shipping (2005) 167 The tide was out, and I walked along the ribbed, puddly sand among the tiny coils left by burrowing amphibians waiting for the return of the sea.