A regional British dialect name for the lumpfish or lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus), a stumpy, disc-footed fish found in North Atlantic coastal waters.
A regional British dialect name for the lumpfish or lumpsucker (Cyclopterus lumpus), a stumpy, disc-footed fish found in North Atlantic coastal waters. Its adhesive pelvic disc allows it to cling to rocks. The roe is often sold as an inexpensive alternative to caviar. The colourful dialect name reflects the fish's comical, paddle-like appearance.
Add your own interpretation of "paddlecock".
UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.
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The fisherman pulled up a paddlecock by accident — it had clung to the crab pot with its stubborn sucker disc.
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(UK, dialect) The lumpfish.
"paddlecock" is a regional or dialect word meaning the lumpfish. It is most likely picked up from family, a particular part of the country, or a piece of regional media. There is nothing to worry about: dialect vocabulary is a sign of place and heritage, not of any risky behaviour. If anything, it is a nice opportunity to talk about where the word comes from and which side of the family or which place uses it.
"paddlecock" is regional / dialectal English meaning the lumpfish. It is mainly heard in British English (and Irish English). A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "the lumpfish" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to use "paddlecock" outside its region; speakers from elsewhere may not understand it or may find it self-consciously local. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.
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