Paddle vs. Oar

Published: 26 Feb, 2019

Main Difference

The main difference between Paddle and Oar is that the Paddle is a tool used for pushing against liquids, either as a form of propulsion in a boat or as an implement for mixing and Oar is a implement used for water-borne propulsion.

Paddle

A paddle is a tool used for pushing against liquids, either as a form of propulsion in a boat or as an implement for mixing.
Oar

An oar is an implement used for water-borne propulsion. Oars have a flat blade at one end. Rowers grasp the oar at the other end.
The difference between oars and paddles are that oars only have one blade, and are used exclusively for rowing, whereas paddles can have either one or two blade and are not rowed. Oars for rowing are generally connected to the vessel by means of rowlocks or tholes which transmit the applied force to the boat. In this system (known as a second class lever) the water is the fulcrum. By contrast, paddles, like those used by canoeists, are held in both hands by the paddler, and are not attached to the vessel.
Rowers generally face the stern of the vessel, reach towards the stern, and insert the blade of their oar in the water. As they lean back, towards the vessel's bow, the blade of their oars sweeps the water towards the stern, providing forward thrust – see lever.
For thousands of years vessels were powered either by sails, or the mechanical work of rowers, or paddlers. Some ancient vessels were propelled by either oars or sail, depending on the speed and direction of the wind (see galley).

Wikipedia

Paddle (noun)
A two-handed, single-bladed oar used to propel a canoe or a small boat.
Paddle (noun)
A double-bladed oar used for kayaking.
Paddle (noun)
Time spent on paddling.
"We had a nice paddle this morning."
Paddle (noun)
A slat of a paddleboat's wheel.
Paddle (noun)
A paddlewheel.
Paddle (noun)
A blade of a waterwheel.
Paddle (noun)
A game controller with a round wheel used to control player movement along one axis of the video screen.
Paddle (noun)
A meandering walk or dabble through shallow water, especially at the seaside.
Paddle (noun)
A kitchen utensil shaped like a paddle and used for mixing, beating etc.
Paddle (noun)
A bat-shaped spanking implement
"The paddle practically ousted the British cane for spankings in the independent US."
Paddle (noun)
A ping-pong bat.
Paddle (noun)
A flat limb of an aquatic animal, adapted for swimming.
"''A sea turtle's paddles make it swim almost as fast as land tortoises are slow"
Paddle (noun)
In a sluice, a panel that controls the flow of water.
Paddle (noun)
A group of inerts
Paddle (noun)
A handheld defibrillation/cardioversion electrode
Paddle (noun)
hand
Paddle (noun)
padel (sport)
Paddle (verb)
To propel something through water with a paddle, oar, hands, etc.
Paddle (verb)
To row a boat with less than one's full capacity.
Paddle (verb)
To spank with a paddle.
Paddle (verb)
To pat or stroke amorously or gently.
Paddle (verb)
To tread upon; to trample.
Paddle (verb)
To walk or dabble playfully in shallow water, especially at the seaside.
Paddle (verb)
To toddle
Paddle (verb)
To toy or caress using hands or fingers

Oar (noun)
An rowed from the other end and being normally fastened to the vessel.
Oar (noun)
An oarsman; a rower.
"He is a good oar."
Oar (noun)
An oar-like swimming organ of various invertebrates.
Oar (verb)
To row; to travel with, or as if with, oars.

Wiktionary

Paddle (noun)
a short pole with a broad blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to move a small boat or canoe through the water
"we dug in deep with our paddles"
"paddle strokes"
Paddle (noun)
an act of paddling a boat
"a gentle paddle on sluggish water"
Paddle (noun)
a paddle-shaped instrument used for mixing food, or stirring or mixing in industrial processes.
Paddle (noun)
a short-handled bat used in table tennis.
Paddle (noun)
a paddle-shaped instrument used to administer corporal punishment.
Paddle (noun)
each of the boards fitted round the circumference of a paddle wheel or mill wheel.
Paddle (noun)
the fin or flipper of an aquatic mammal or bird.
Paddle (noun)
a flat array of solar cells projecting from a spacecraft.
Paddle (noun)
a plastic-covered electrode used in cardiac stimulation.
Paddle (noun)
an act of walking with bare feet in shallow water
"I went for a paddle"
Paddle (verb)
move through the water in a boat using a paddle or paddles
"he was teaching trainees to paddle canoes"
"she paddled along the coast"
Paddle (verb)
propel a boat along (a stretch of water) using paddles
"a legal right to paddle Scottish rivers"
Paddle (verb)
(of bird or other animal) swim with short fast strokes
"the swan paddled away"
Paddle (verb)
beat (someone) with a paddle as a punishment
"ask the mother if she minds the offspring getting paddled from time to time"
Paddle (verb)
walk with bare feet in shallow water
"the children paddled at the water's edge"
Paddle (verb)
dabble the feet or hands in water
"Peter paddled idly in the water with his fingers"

Oar (noun)
a pole with a flat blade, used to row or steer a boat through the water
"she pulled hard on the oars"
Oar (noun)
an oarsman; a rower
"I was stroke oar and John was in the bow"
Oar (verb)
propel with or as if with oars; row
"oaring through the weeds"
"oaring the sea like madmen"

Oxford Dictionary

Paddle (verb)
To use the hands or fingers in toying; to make caressing strokes.
Paddle (verb)
To dabble in water with hands or feet; to use a paddle, or something which serves as a paddle, in swimming, in paddling a boat, etc.
Paddle
To pat or stroke amorously, or gently.
Paddle
To propel with, or as with, a paddle or paddles.
Paddle
To pad; to tread upon; to trample.
Paddle
To spank with a paddle or as if with a paddle; - usually as a disciplinary punishment of children.
Paddle
To mix (a viscous liquid) by stirring or beating with a paddle.
Paddle (noun)
An implement with a broad blade, which is used without a fixed fulcrum in propelling and steering canoes and boats.
Paddle (noun)
The broad part of a paddle, with which the stroke is made;
Paddle (noun)
One of the broad boards, or floats, at the circumference of a water wheel, or paddle wheel.
Paddle (noun)
A small gate in sluices or lock gates to admit or let off water; - also called clough.
Paddle (noun)
A paddle-shaped foot, as of the sea turtle.
Paddle (noun)
A paddle-shaped implement for stirring or mixing.
Paddle (noun)
See Paddle staff (b), below.

Oar (noun)
An implement for impelling a boat, being a slender piece of timber, usually ash or spruce, with a grip or handle at one end and a broad blade at the other. The part which rests in the rowlock is called the loom.
Oar (noun)
An oarsman; a rower; as, he is a good oar.
Oar (noun)
An oarlike swimming organ of various invertebrates.
Oar
To row.

Webster Dictionary

Paddle (noun)
small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
Paddle (noun)
a blade of a paddle wheel or water wheel
Paddle (noun)
an instrument of punishment consisting of a flat board
Paddle (noun)
a short light oar used without an oarlock to propel a canoe or small boat
Paddle (verb)
propel with a paddle;
"paddle your own canoe"
Paddle (verb)
play in or as if in water, as of small children
Paddle (verb)
swim like a dog in shallow water
Paddle (verb)
walk unsteadily;
"small children toddle"
Paddle (verb)
give a spanking to; subject to a spanking
Paddle (verb)
stir with a paddle