I have only heard Puddling used in a couple of situations. One is to do with Iron and Steel working ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puddling_furnace#Puddling_furnace


and then there is the one used when making ponds and canals where you use clay to waterproof them ...


http://handbooks.btcv.org.uk/handbooks/content/section/2443

(this was before waterproof linings of plastic were made of course!)