I. ˈswäd ə l also -wȯd- transitive verb
( swaddled ; swaddled ; swaddling -d( ə )liŋ ; swaddles )
Etymology: Middle English swadelen, swathelen, probably alteration (influenced by swathen to swathe) of swedelen, swethelen to swaddle, from swethel swaddle, from Old English swethel, swæthel; akin to Middle Dutch swadel swaddle, Old High German swedil swaddle, Middle Low German swede bandage — more at swathe
1.
a. : to wrap (an infant) with swaddling clothes
the baby is tightly swaddled in long strips of material holding its legs straight and its arms down by its sides — Patrick Mullahy
b. : to wrap completely or almost completely : swathe , envelop
had they swaddled the head in clothes … would it have ceased to bleed — Glenway Wescott
an elderly lady swaddled in sealskin started a conversation with us — New Yorker
2. : to restrain protectively or in a confining manner : restrict
his mother swaddles him with demure gentilities — Charles Lee
liturgical style swaddles all improprieties — Samuel Yellen
3. archaic : beat , thrash
II. noun
( -s )
1. : swaddling clothes 1
2. archaic : bandage