canoe vs paddle

canoe

noun
  • A small long and narrow boat, propelled by one or more people (depending on the size of canoe), using single-bladed paddles. The paddlers face in the direction of travel, in either a seated position, or kneeling on the bottom of the boat. Canoes are open on top, and pointed at both ends. 

  • An oversize, usually older, luxury car. 

  • Any of the deflectors positioned around a roulette wheel, shaped like upside-down boats. 

verb
  • To ride or paddle a canoe. 

paddle

noun
  • The use of a paddle to propel a boat; a session of paddling. 

  • A broad, flat device used in striking the ball, analogous to a racket in tennis. 

  • A blade of a waterwheel. 

  • A flap of attached skin that has been cut away from a wound. 

  • A broad, flat spanking implement. 

  • A double-bladed version with blades at each end of the shaft is used for kayaking. 

  • A handheld electrode used for defibrillation or cardioversion. 

  • A person's hand. 

  • In a sluice, a panel that controls the flow of water. 

  • A paddlewheel. 

  • A flat limb of an aquatic animal, adapted for swimming. 

  • A slat of a paddleboat's wheel. 

  • A meandering walk or dabble through shallow water, especially at the seaside. 

  • A flat board with a number of holes or indentations, used to carry small alcoholic drinks such as shots. 

  • A single-bladed version is typically used on canoes and some other small boats. 

  • A kitchen utensil shaped like a paddle and used for mixing, beating etc. 

verb
  • To row a boat with less than one's full capacity. 

  • To toddle. 

  • To spank with a paddle. 

  • To propel something through water with a paddle, oar, hands, etc. 

  • To pat or stroke amorously or gently. 

  • To tread upon; to trample. 

  • To walk or dabble playfully in shallow water, especially at the seaside. 

  • To dog paddle in water. 

How often have the words canoe and paddle occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )