Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

swaddler

noun
swad·​dler | \ -d(ᵊ)lə(r)\
plural -s

Definition of swaddler

chiefly Irish
: a Methodist preacher broadly : protestant

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for swaddler

swaddle entry 2 + -er; probably from the frequent mention made by the preachers in their sermons to the swaddling clothes in which the infant Jesus lay (Luke 2:7)

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about swaddler

Statistics for swaddler

Look-up Popularity

Comments on swaddler

What made you want to look up swaddler? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

cumulate

to gather or build up little by little

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games