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Webster 1913 Edition

Swaddle

Swad′dle

,
Noun.
[AS.
swe[GREEK]il
,
swe[GREEK]el
, fr.
swe[GREEK]ain
to bind. See
Swathe
.]
Anything used to swaddle with, as a cloth or band; a swaddling band.
They put me in bed in all my swaddles.
Addison.

Swad′dle

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Swaddled
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Swaddling
.]
1.
To bind as with a bandage; to bind or warp tightly with clothes; to swathe; – used esp. of infants;
as, to
swaddle
a baby
.
They
swaddled
me up in my nightgown with long pieces of linen.
Addison.
2.
To beat; to cudgel.
[Obs.]
Hudibras.

Webster 1828 Edition

Swaddle

SWAD'DLE

, v.t.
1.
To swathe; to bind, as with a bandage; to bind tight with clothes; used generally of infants; as, to swaddle a child.
They swaddled me in my night-gown.
2.
To bat; to cudgel. [Low and not in use.]

SWAD'DLE

,
Noun.
Clothes bound tight around the body.
They put me in bed in all my swaddles.

Definition 2024

swaddle

swaddle

English

Verb

swaddle ‎(third-person singular simple present swaddles, present participle swaddling, simple past and past participle swaddled)

  1. To bind (a baby) with long narrow strips of cloth.
  2. (archaic) To beat; cudgel.

Related terms

Translations

Noun

swaddle ‎(plural swaddles)

  1. Anything used to swaddle with, such as a cloth or band.
    • Addison
      They put me in bed in all my swaddles.

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English swathlen ‎(“to bind; swaddle”), from Middle English swathel, swethel, from Old English swaþul, swæþel, sweþel, sweoþol ‎(“swaddling cloth”), equivalent to swathe ‎(“to wrap with fabric”) +‎ -le ‎(agent/instrumental suffix), the word then underwent th-stopping (its voiced th became a d). Cognate with Middle Dutch swadel ‎(“swaddling; bandage”), Old High German swedili ‎(“poultice”), Old English sweþian, besweþian ‎(“to wrap; swaddle”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /swɔdl/
  • Rhymes: -ɒdəl

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