verb
waddle
WOD-uhl
verb
1
To walk with short steps, rocking from side to side.
"The penguin waddled across the ice toward the water."
"She waddled awkwardly in her heels after a long night out."
noun
1
A swaying, short-stepped way of walking.
"You could recognise him from his distinctive waddle."
How to Use Waddle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo walk with a rocking, side-to-side motion, like a duck.
Common pairings
waddle across
penguin waddle
waddle along
Word Forms
waddled past tense, waddles plural, Waddles plural, waddles singular
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Etymology
From Middle English "wadelen", a repeated-action form of "waden" (to wade) — the same root as "wade" plus a frequentative ending.