pud|dle

pud|dle «PUHD uhl», noun, verb, -dled, -dling.

–n.

1. a small pool of water, especially dirty water: »

a puddle of rain water.

2. Figurative: »

a puddle of ink.

3. wet clay and sand stirred into a paste, used as a watertight lining for embankments, canals, etc.

4. the molten metal that flows before the flame of a welding torch and forms the weld when cooled: »

Move the flame across the surface of the sheet metal, carrying the puddle along the surface (Purvis and Toboldt).

–v.i.

1. to dabble or wade in puddles: »

The children always puddle about in the garden after a rain.

2. Figurative. to busy oneself in a disorderly way: »

He puddled about at first one thing and another, never getting anything done.

–v.t.

1. to make wet or muddy: »

Tablecloths puddled with melted ice (Thackeray).

2. to mix up (wet clay and sand) into a thick paste.

3. to use a mixture of wet clay and sand to stop water from running through: »

Puddle up that hole in the wall.

4. to stir (molten pig iron) along with an oxidizing agent to make wrought iron.

5. to prepare (soil) for planting while wet, as in a rice paddy.

6. to damage the texture of (soil, especially a heavy soil) by plowing, harrowing, or otherwise working before excess water has drained.

╂[Middle English puddel, apparently (diminutive) < Old English pudd ditch]