paddock

I.

1) In England, a small field; in Australia,the general word for any field, or for any block of landenclosed by a fence. The `Home-paddock' is the paddock nearthe Homestation, and usually very large.

1832. J. Bischoff, `Van Diemen's Land,' c. vi. p. 148:

«There is one paddock of 100 acres, fenced on four sides.»

1844. `Port Phillip Patriot,' July 25, p. 3, col. 6:

«A 300-acre grass paddock, enclosed by a two-rail fence.»

1846. C. P. Hodgson, `Reminiscences of Australia,' p. 42:

«The paddocks are so arranged that hills may afford shelter,and plains or light-timbered flats an escape from the enormousflies and other persecuting enemies.»

1892. `Scribner's Magazine,' Feb., p. 141:

«`Paddocks,' as the various fields are called (some of these`paddocks' contain 12,000 acres).»

2) An excavation made for procuring wash-dirt in shallowground. A place built near the mouth of a shaft where quartzor wash-dirt is stored. (Brough Smyth, `Glossary of MiningTerms,' 1869.)

1895. `Otago Witness,' Nov. 21, p. 22, col. 5:

«A paddock was opened at the top of the beach, but rock-bottomwas found.»

II.

v.

to divide into paddocks.

1873. A. Trollope, `Australia and New Zealand,' c. xx.p. 302:

«When a run is paddocked shepherds are not required;but boundary riders are required.»