waddle — to walk with short steps, swaying from side to side
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to walk with short steps, swaying from side to side
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɑːdəl/
Example Sentences
- The toddler waddled to his mother like a baby penguin.
- After eating too much at the buffet, I could only waddle to the car.
- The pregnant woman waddled down the hallway with a smile.
waddle
VERB[/ˈwɑːdəl/]
to walk with short steps, swaying from side to side
Penguin waddling across the ice
WAD(thick bundle) + DLE(middle) — hiding a massive WAD of cash in his midDLE, the thief began to waddle.
In the water, its feet worked like a smooth paddle, but on land, the duck could only waddle.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Waddle emerged in the 16th century, likely derived from or related to the verb 'wade' (to walk through water with effort), or possibly from onomatopoeia imitating the sound and rhythm of an awkward, side-to-side gait. The exact origin remains uncertain, but the word reflects the characteristic movement it describes.
Breakdown
The word is believed to have onomatopoetic origins, potentially related to 'wade' with a diminutive or iterative suffix creating the doubled consonant effect (-dd-) that emphasizes the repetitive, unsteady motion of the gait.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The toddler waddled to his mother like a baby penguin.”
“After eating too much at the buffet, I could only waddle to the car.”
“The pregnant woman waddled down the hallway with a smile.”
“Ducks waddled in a line behind their mother.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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