Padiddle

Padiddle refers to a popular game, where players must say the word “Padiddle” upon sighting a car with only one working headlight.

If you fail to say the word first, then You Lost the Game, which has various implications, depending on who you are playing with, usually including flirtatious acts, such as taking off an article of clothing or giving a kiss to your opponent.

As you may have guessed, you only play this game with someone to whom you’re catering tender feelings.

“Padiddle” was comes from a 1948 comic, created by B. Montana Archie, and published in the Nevada State Journal on May 23^rd.

The comic depicts a youthful couple cruising in a car, when the girl says “Let’s play ‘padiddle’… When a car goes by with one headlight if I say padiddle you have to give me a kiss!”

By the 1950’s, the term became widely associated with a flirting game, especially in the Pennsylvania area, even appearing in popular songs at the time.

In the latter half of the 20^th century, “Padiddle” turned into a game played all throughout the United States.

The rise of the internet also helped in maintaining and even spreading the popularity of the game to new areas.

It was first defined on Urban Dictionary on December 17^th, 2003, with several entries to follow.

During the 2000’s, artists such as the Stoop Kids also released songs, related to the game of “Padiddle”, further aiding its longevity.

• Wikipedia.org – Padiddle
• Thenewswheel.com – The Origin and Meaning of Padiddle, the One-Headlight Car Game
• Lexico.com – padiddle
• Wiktionary.org – padiddle