[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/paddy/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / paddy

# paddy

noun (a paddy, paddies); noun (paddy — UK informal, a temper)

«paddy» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A paddy, or paddy field, is a flooded field where rice is grown. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#m1)
2. Paddy is rice that has not yet been husked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#m2)
3. (UK, informal) A paddy is a fit of bad temper: «He's in a paddy». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#m3)
4. (offensive, slang) «Paddy» is an old insulting word for an Irish person; do not use it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#m4)
5. Paddy is also a name, a short form of Patrick. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#m5)

### In the lessons

In geography lessons it is used about farming in Asia, where rice grows in water. In UK homes a child having a tantrum may be said to «throw a paddy». As a name it is common in Ireland. The insulting use is a trap: it should not be used about Irish people.

### Examples

- Rice grows in a paddy field. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x1)
- Farmers plant rice in flooded paddies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x2)
- The terraced paddies climbed the hill. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x3)
- (UK) My little brother threw a paddy at the shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x4)
- (UK) Don't get in a paddy, it's only a game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x5)
- Paddy is my uncle's name. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x6)
- Water buffalo work in the paddy fields. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x7)
- The paddy is dried before the husk is removed. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/#x8)

### Note

Plural: paddies. The temper meaning is informal British. The ethnic-insult use is rude and hurtful. As a name, it has a capital letter: Paddy.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «paddy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/paddy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«paddy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/paddy.html) on Mova free.