Paddlin’ (Paddling)

In Appalachian and Southern speech, a "paddlin’" (sometimes written "paddling") means a spanking or whipping with a paddle, especially as school discipline. It’s a folksy word for corporal punishment, remembered by many who grew up in rural schools.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

Oh I had a teacher that whooped me so hard that she left bruises. Worst 'paddlin’' I ever got. You know who you are.

Pronunciation

[PAD-lin]

Meaning & Usage

- A spanking with a paddle (noun)

Mae:

Why’s he so quiet today?

Earl:

Got a paddlin’ from the teacher.

- A punishment or whipping in general (figurative)

Mae:

He mouthed off again?

Earl:

Yep, and he’s due a paddlin’ for it.

variations: whuppin’

★ "Paddlin’" usually meant school discipline, but some families used it at home too. The word softened the sting a bit - it sounds almost comical today, though kids back then didn’t think so. ★

Origin

From "paddle," the wooden board used for corporal punishment in schools. The verb "to paddle" someone meant to spank them; "paddlin’" was the noun form for the punishment itself. Widely used in 20th-century American schools, especially in the South and Appalachia.

Notes

Still remembered vividly in Southern and Appalachian storytelling. Less used outside the region, where "spanking" or "swats" were more common. Today it’s mostly a nostalgic or joking word, since paddling in schools has nearly disappeared.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "pad-lin." The final "g" is dropped: "paddlin’."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Was "paddlin’" only a Southern thing?

The practice existed elsewhere, but the word "paddlin’" was especially strong in Southern and Appalachian talk.

Do schools still give paddlin’s?

Rarely - it’s banned in most states, though some Southern schools technically allow it.

Is "paddlin’" the same as spanking?

Yes - but specifically with a paddle rather than just a hand.