vt. 用襁褓包;束缚
n. 襁褓
swaddle 包裹,紧裹
来自古英语 swathian,包裹,裹紧,词源同 swathe,带子,长条布。-le, 表反复。字母 d,th 音 变,如 burden 来自古英语 byrthen.
Young children ... are still bandaged in this manner in many parts of Europe to prevent them from using their limbs freely, owing to a fancy that those who are left free in infancy become deformed. [Century Dictionary, 1891]Wyclif uses swathing-clothes (late 14c.).