Waddle

Waddle is a gait characterized by short steps and a lateral swaying motion, typically used to describe how certain animals move on land. It is most commonly associated with birds such as penguins, ducks, and other species with relatively short legs and a body that sits high above the ground. In these animals, the legs are positioned toward the rear of the body, which makes a long, straight stride impractical and encourages a compact, waddling progression. The motion can involve the feet remaining relatively close to each other and a visible side-to-side sway as weight shifts from foot to foot. While efficient for short distances at slow speeds, waddling is generally slower and less energy-efficient than the gait of longer-legged runners.

The term is also used in human context to describe a similar, wide-based or unsteady walking pattern. In adults, a waddle can occur due to pregnancy, obesity, leg or hip issues, muscular weakness, or carrying heavy loads, and it is often described as a temporary or adaptive gait rather than a normal, comfortable walking style. In zoology and popular descriptions, waddling helps characterize the distinctive locomotion of birds with specific proportions and postures, and it is commonly cited as a hallmark of penguin and duck movement.

Etymology and usage: Waddle is an English verb and noun, often viewed as onomatopoeic or imitative of the motion it describes. In broader usage, it can describe a general, shallow, swaying walk in both animals and humans, or function as a descriptor in descriptive writing and observational accounts.