swaddle

verb

swad·​dle ˈswä-dᵊl 

swaddled; swaddling ˈswäd-liŋ 

ˈswä-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to wrap (an infant) with swaddling clothes

b

: envelop, swathe

legs swaddled in bandages

2

: restrain, restrict

marriage … swaddled him in a domesticity he came to loathe

—Nina Auerbach

Examples of swaddle in a Sentence

He swaddled the baby in a blanket.

Recent Examples on the Web

Do not swaddle babies who are attempting to roll over or who are able to roll over. —Jessica Booth, Parents, 3 Apr. 2024

Jennifer Lawrence, who is a walking advert for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s rarefied wrong shoes, capacious totes, and swaddling cashmere (perfect for hiding from the paps in). —Alice Newbold, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024

The 7-pound baby was found swaddled under a green T-shirt inside two plastic bags. —Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 24 Mar. 2024

Leaves of purple cabbage have been enlisted to swaddle mapo tofu at Poltergeist, the current culinary fascination in Los Angeles. —Kim Severson, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024

The safe, swaddling allure of quiet luxury, the sort of luxury that was as much of a local specialty as risotto alla Milanese, seems less and less consequential — a sort of relaxed, neutral approach to self-expression that no longer jibes with the increasing urgency of the world. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024

Faux-leather vinyl upholstery wrapped around the steering wheel and seats, honeycomb floor mats, climate control by Vintage Air, and seat heaters all swaddle the interior in premium touchpoints. —Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2024

Aggie was bottle fed every three hours (thus the 3 a.m. feeding) and kept cozy, swaddled in blankets in a storage box near the wood stove. —Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 16 Mar. 2024

Rather than get political, fashion is choosing to offer succor in the form of protective garments that embrace, or even swaddle, the wearer. —Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English swadelen, swathelen, probably alteration of swedelen, swethelen, from swethel swaddling band, from Old English; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

swaddle

verb

swad·​dle ˈswäd-ᵊl 

swaddled; swaddling ˈswäd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

: to wrap an infant with swaddling clothes