I. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English swadeling, swatheling act of swaddling, from gerund of swadelen, swathelen to swaddle
1. : swaddling clothes — usually used in plural
changed the swaddlings on a baby — R.P.Warren
2. : bandaging — usually used in plural
in case the fracture be next to the knee from below, then use no swaddlings over the knee — A.L.Fox
II. adjective
Etymology: swaddling (I) ; probably from the frequent mention made by the preachers in their sermons to the swaddling clothes in which the infant Jesus lay (Lk 2:7)
Britain : protestant ; especially : methodist
swearing he would have none of their swaddling prayers — John Wesley