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Definition of paddywhack in English:

paddywhack

(also paddywack)

noun

informal

  • 1Chiefly derogatory. An Irishman.

  • 2US informal= "paddy". Now rare.

  • 3A severe beating; a violent blow. Now chiefly nursery.

Origin

Late 18th century. Apparently from paddy + whack, although the semantic motivation for the compound is unclear.

Pronunciation

paddywhack

/ˈpadɪwak/