▪ I. sweddle, n. Obs. exc. dial.
(ˈswɛd(ə)l)
Forms: α. 1 suaeðil, suoeðel, sweþil, -el, 4–5 swethel, sueþel, (4 squeþel); β. 5 swedyll, 9 dial. sweddle.
[OE. *sweþel:—*swaþil-, f. swaþ- in swaþian to swathe + instrumental suffix (-le). Cf. swaddle and swethe.]
= swaddle n. 1.
| c 725 Corpus Gloss. (Hessels) F 26 Fasciarum, suaeðila. c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John xi. 44 Ligatus pedes et manus institis, ᵹebundeno foet & hond suuoeðles. c 1050 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 400/41 Fasciarum, sweþelum, wræda. Ibid. 403/4 Fascia, sweþil, wræd. c 1450 Mirk's Festial 231 When he was bowndyn hondys and fote wyth his sweþeles. 1877 Holderness Gloss., Sweddle, a swathing-band for infants. 1887 South Chesh. Gloss., Sweddles, a child's swaddling-band. |
b. attrib., as † sweddle- (swethel-) band = swaddle-band; † sweddle-clout = swaddling-clouts.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 1343 (Cott.) A new born barn... Bondon wit a sueþelband [v.rr. squeþel bande, suadiling band, swaþeling bonde]. c 1325 Metr. Hom. 91 A womman..That bar a child in hir arm, In swethel cloutes liand warm. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xvi. 310 On lyfe lyefe none of tho that lygys in swedyll clowte. |
▪ II. ˈsweddle, v. Obs. exc. dial.
Forms: α. 4 swethel, -il; β. 4 suedel, 5 swedyll, 6–7 sweddell, swedle. See also sweel v.
[f. prec.]
= swaddle v. 1, 2.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 11236 (Cott.) Sli clathes als sco had to hand Wit suilk sco suedeld [Gött. swetheled] him and band. Ibid. 11271 Þe child þat suedeld [Gött. swethild] was, Lai in crib tuix ox and ass. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2034 Þenn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute; Swyþe sweþled vmbe his swange swetely. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xiii. 433, I shall swedyll hym right In my credyll. 1535 Coverdale Job xxxviii. 9 When I made the cloudes to be a coueringe for it, and swedled it with y⊇ darcke. ― Ezek. xvi. 4 Thou wast nether rubbed with salt, ner swedled in cloutes. 1615 R. Brathwait Strappado (1878) 129 Thou hardly had a lapp to swedle thee. |
Hence ˈsweddling ppl. a. (in quot., ? wrapped in swaddling-clothes).
| ? a 1500 Chester Pl. (E.E.T.S.) viii. 392 That ilke swedling swayne I shall swap of his head. |