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swaddle. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
swaddle, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
swaddle in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
swaddle you have here. The definition of the word
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English
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
Verb
swaddle (third-person singular simple present swaddles, present participle swaddling, simple past and past participle swaddled)
- To bind (a baby) with long narrow strips of cloth.
- (archaic) To beat; cudgel.
Translations
Noun
swaddle (plural swaddles)
- Anything used to swaddle with, such as a cloth or band.
1711 June 24 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 90; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, , volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC:They put me in bed in all my swaddles.
2020, Avni Doshi, Burnt Sugar, Hamish Hamilton, page 207:The baby is awake, trying to escape the swaddle I have imprisoned her in.
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