English

Proper noun

Paddy

1. An Irish nickname for Patrick.

Translations

Noun

Paddy ‎(plural Paddies)

1. (slang, sometimes offensive) An Irish person.

See also

• Pat

English

A rice paddy in Bangladesh.

Noun

paddy ‎(plural paddies)

1. Rough or unhusked rice, either before it is milled or as a crop to be harvested. [from 17th c.]
   • 2011, Deepika Phukan, translating Arupa Patangia Kalita, The Story of Felanee:

     Taking out a handful of paddy the old woman exclaimed, “Look how good this paddy is! It is called Malbhog – it makes excellent puffed rice.”

2. A paddy field; an irrigated or flooded field where rice is grown. [from 20th c.]

Translations

See also

• paddy paw

Etymology 2

English dialect paddy ‎(“worm-eaten”).

Adjective

paddy ‎(comparative more paddy, superlative most paddy)

1. (obsolete) Low; mean; boorish; vagabond.
   • Digges (1585)
   • John Lothrop Motley

     Even after the expiration of four months the condition of the paddy persons continued most destitute. The English soldiers became mere barefoot starving beggars in the streets […]

Etymology 3

Possibly from Paddy ‎(“Irishman”)

Noun

paddy ‎(plural paddies)

1. A fit of temper; a tantrum

   throw a paddy etc.

   • 2013, Mike Brown, Adventures with Czech George (page 17)

     I like the story of the Emperor Frederick who got into a paddy with his cook, and shouted: 'I am the Emperor, and I want dumplings.'