padiddle, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

padiddle n.

[ety. unknown; the term is used in a synon. travelling game whereby one shouts out ‘Padiddle’ when seeing such a vehicle; other players suffer a forfeit]

(US) a vehicle with one burned-out headlight; thus any old or run-down vehicle.

[1949–51		in M. Daly Profile of Youth 233: The first person of a couple to see a car with one headlight out shouts, ‘Padiddle’].
1997		Eble Campus Sl. Apr.
2003		St Louis Post-Dispatch 15 Mar. 30/2–3: In Belleville there lives a man – a retired judge, even – who will stand up for the rights of people still rattling around in cars from the Age of Disco. Padiddle drivers of America have found their champion: William B. Starnes, retired judge of the St. Clair County Court.
2004		Wikipedia 🌐 A padiddle or perdiddle is a car that has one headlight burned out.