What does “waddie” mean?
Walt “Waddie” Clark
Austin, Texas
“Waddie” or “waddy” was originally a derogatory word for a thief or rustler, and the word gradually evolved into meaning a lower-class hired hand on horseback. Wordsmith Ramon F. Adams believed waddie was coined by cattlemen from “wad,” which describes someone who fills in on a ranch during the busy season, such as spring or fall. “Wad” derives from “wadding”—something that fills in. Others believe wa
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