From Middle English wadelen, frequentative form of waden, equivalent to wade + -le. Compare Saterland Frisian wuttelje (“to waddle”), Old High German wadalōn (“to roam; wander”), Middle High German wadelen, wedelen (“to wander; rove”), German wedeln (“to waggle”).
First known use in English in a version of the Song of Roland around the year 1400.
Meanings
A squat, swaying gait.
the waddle of a duck
A group of birds, such as ducks and penguins, when walking.
Mr. Lillis imported a waddle of penguins who lined up at the clubhouse gate in their snappy thermal attire and were the first clients admitted. 1963, Red Smith, The Best of Red Smith, F. Watts, page 111:
You can see the dolphin show, the miracles of Stellar's sea lions and the cute waddle of penguins under the glittering illumination of the indoor swimming pool. 2008, Hyeongak Kim, Visual Atlas of Korea: 2008 Map & Guide, Kyohaksa, page 225:
A waddle of ducks and ducklings appeared around her feet. 2024, micheal dubh, The Girl who Rode the Unihorn: Of love and climate devastation, Seanchaidh, page 333:
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Translations (8)
es andadura de ánade (swaying gait) · de Watscheln (swaying gait) · de watschelnder Gang (swaying gait) · ro mers legănat (swaying gait) · sv vaggande (swaying gait) · bg патешко ходене (swaying gait) · fi vaapunta (swaying gait) · hu totyogás (swaying gait)
From Middle English wadelen, frequentative form of waden, equivalent to wade + -le. Compare Saterland Frisian wuttelje (“to waddle”), Old High German wadalōn (“to roam; wander”), Middle High German wadelen, wedelen (“to wander; rove”), German wedeln (“to waggle”).
First known use in English in a version of the Song of Roland around the year 1400.
Meanings
(intransitive) To walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side.
The pond was another favourite place to visit. Moorhens strutted from the neighbouring bushes, and a bevy of Muscovy ducks, a study in black, white and red, waddled from the farmyard hard by to enjoy a refreshing splash. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 217:
(intransitive) To move slowly.
Now, on the bright side, things weren't all bad; they had commendably-thick belt armor, which was 12 inches thickness, and they had a very large number of subdivided watertight compartments, which would make them very durable. Due to their being quite fat, they could also turn very quickly, even if they were waddling along by the end of the turn. 2018 December 19, Drachinifel, 4:55 from the start, in SMS Nassau - Guide 007 (Human Voice), archived from the original on 18 Dec 2022:
gl tordear (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · cs kolébat se (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · hu totyog (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · fo vappa (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · el παραπατώ (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · de watscheln (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · uk ходити перевальцем (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · sv vagga (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · ru ходи́ть вразвалку (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · nl waggelen (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · it ondeggiare (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · el πηγαίνω σαν πάπια (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · ja よちよち歩く (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · ro merge legănat (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · tr badi badi/paytak paytak yürümek (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · es tambalearse (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · ru перева́ливаться (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · bg клатя се като патица (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · eo anaspaŝi (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · fi vaappua (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · fr se dandiner (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · sl racati (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · mi mānānana (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · cs jít kolébavě (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · pl taśtać (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · es dar traspiés (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · ja よたよた歩く (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · mi parepare (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side) · es anadear (to walk with short steps, tilting the body from side to side)