Advertisement

Advertisement

paddle wheel

noun

  1. a wheel for propelling a ship, having a number of paddles entering the water more or less perpendicularly.


paddle wheel

noun

  1. a large wheel fitted with paddles, turned by an engine to propel a vessel on the water


Discover More

Other Words From

  • paddle-wheel adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of paddle wheel1

First recorded in 1675–85

Discover More

Example Sentences

The 'Syria' was originally a paddle-wheel steamer, having oscillating cylinders worked with steam of 25 lbs.

In the same vessel he adopted a feathering paddle-wheel and the guard-beam now universally seen in our river steamboats.

The screw was found to possess many advantages over the paddle-wheel as an instrument for ship-propulsion.

All these were paddle-wheel boats, and paddle-wheel boats are not adapted to work in heavy seas.

With chain or rope traction there is no loss by slip or oblique action, as in both screw and paddle-wheel propulsion.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement