swaddle

Meanings

Verb

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

Noun

• Anything used to swaddle with, such as a cloth or band.

Origin

• From Middle English swathlen ("to bind; swaddle"), from Middle English swathel, swethel, from Old English swaþul, swæþel, sweþel, sweoþol, equivalent to swathe + -le, 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.