swaddle

UK: /ˈswɒd^əl/ US: /ˈswɑdəl/ ,(swod′l)

Inflections of 'swaddle' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

swaddles

v 3rd person singular

swaddling

v pres p

swaddled

v past

swaddled

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

swad•dle /ˈswɑdəl/   v. [~ + object] , -dled, -dling. 

1. to bind (a newborn infant) with clothes to prevent free movement.
2. to wrap (anything) round with bandages.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

swad•dle  (swod′l), v., -dled, -dling, n. 
v.t. 

1. to bind (an infant, esp. a newborn infant) with long, narrow strips of cloth to prevent free movement;
   wrap tightly with clothes.
2. to wrap (anything) round with bandages.

n. 

3. a long, narrow strip of cloth used for swaddling or bandaging.

• 1375–1425; late Middle English, in suadiling (gerund, gerundive); akin by gradation to Middle English swethel (noun, nominal), Old English; see swathe, -le

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

swaddle / ˈswɒd^əl/ verb (transitive)

1. to wind a bandage round
2. to wrap (a baby) in swaddling clothes
3. to restrain as if by wrapping with bandages; smother

noun

1. swaddling clothes

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old English swæthel swaddling clothes; related to swathian to swathe