ˈswaddling-band
usually pl. -bands.
[See swaddling vbl. n. and band n.1, bond n.1]
= next.
| α a 1425 [see β, quot. 13..]. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. 300 Their king (as yet an infant in his swathling bands). |
| β 13.. Cursor M. 1343 (Gött.) A new-born child..bunden wid a suadiling band [a 1425 (Trin. MS.) swaþeling bonde]. 1560 Bible (Genev.) Job xxxviii. 9 When I made the cloudes as a couering thereof, and darkenes as the swadeling bandes thereof. 1590 Spenser F.Q. i. x. 65 As thou slepst in tender swadling band. 1629 Milton Christ's Nativ. 228 Our Babe to shew his Godhead true, Can in his swadling bands controul the damned crew. 1717 Prior Alma ii. 389 One People from their swadling Bands Releas'd their Infants Feet and Hands. 1789 W. Buchan Dom. Med. i. (1790) 11 Though many of them [sc. brute animals] are extremely delicate when they come into the world, yet we never find them grow crooked for want of swaddling bands. |
b. fig. and
allusively.
| 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. i. i. (Arb.) 7 Then foule faced Vice was in his swadling bands. 1663 Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxix. (1687) 347 The Spirit of Man only should..continue a Child, and never be unloosed from its swadling⁓bands. 1815 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. iii. (1818) I. 69 Having laid aside its mask, and cast off its swaddling bands,..it is now become a true representative or image of its species. 1837 J. Chandler Hymns 2 When from the swaddling bands of shade Sprang forth the world so fair. 1845 R. W. Hamilton Pop. Educ. i. (1846) 14 The swaddling-bands of a mistaken kindness..only cramp its energies. 1875 E. White Life in Christ ii. ix. (1878) 87 Darkness is necessarily the swaddling-band of mind awakening from nothingness. |