paddy1
/ˈpadi
/noun (plural paddies)
1 (also paddy field) A field where rice is grown.But he did not receive water from the government irrigation scheme in time, the paddy field dried out and he could not get a good harvest....
- ‘It was like a huge group of grasshoppers surrounding a paddy field, ready to ravage the grains,’ the report said.
- The geographical location of the paddy field made the expanse of land that it encompasses brim with surprises - with never ending tales of its own.
2 [mass noun] Rice before threshing or in the husk.The 38-year-old rice-grower plans to convert his 2,000 square metres of rice paddy into fruit orchards....
- They include an overflowing measure of paddy or rice, coconuts, fruits, a lamp, a mirror, and other objects.
- The government therefore has frozen rice procurement price at the 2002 level of Rs 6.10 for a kilogram of rice paddy.
Origin
Early 17th century: from Malay pādī.
The paddy of paddy field is from Malay pādī meaning ‘rice in the straw’. Paddy meaning ‘fit of anger’ (late 19th century) is from the given name Paddy, associated with obsolete paddywhack meaning ‘an Irishman (given to brawling)’. The name Paddy is an Irish pet-form of Padraig or Patrick and was used colloquially as a term for an Irishman from the early 18th century, but is now considered offensive.
Rhymes
paddy2
/ˈpadi/noun (plural paddies) [in singular] British informal
A fit of temper: John drove off in a paddy...
- I wouldn't exactly say he's straight with me either, but at least he doesn't run off in a paddy.
- Crooks explained: ‘He had a bit of a paddy but he's realised that if he is going to stay at the club he has to go along with what I tell him.’
- With that she threw a paddy and put the phone down on him.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Paddy, associated with obsolete paddywhack 'Irishman (given to brawling').
Paddy3
/ˈpadi/noun informal, chiefly derogatory
An Irishman (often as a form of address).
Origin
Late 18th century: pet form of the Irish given name Padraig.