Obs. Forms: α. 2 swaðel-, 6 swathell-, swathle-, 6–7 swathel-. β. 5–6 swadel-, 6 -yl-, swaddell-, swadle-, 7 swaddle-. [f. SWADDLE + BAND sb.1] = SWADDLING-BAND.
α. c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 49. He lai bewunden on fiteres and mid swaðelbonde ibunden.
1552. Huloet, Swathell, or swathle band for a chyld, fascia.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Vne Bande ou Bandelette,… a swathel band.
β. 1530. Palsgr., 277/2. Swadylbande, bande, fasse.
1530. in Ancestor, XI. (1904), 179. An egle … flyeng gryping a child swadeled geules lined ermyns the swadelbond gold.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, IV. 58. The first of these Muscles … goeth forward fleshy, broad, and thinne like a swadle band.
1639. Massinger, Unnat. Combat, IV. ii. Would you have me Transforme … My corselet to a cradle? or my belt To swaddlebands?
So † Swaddle-belt, † -bind, † -binding.
1467. Maldon, Essex, Crt. Rolls (Bundle 43, No. 14). vi paria caligarum, ii swadel byndes.
1592. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees), II. 211. One fine swaddell belt 14d.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, II. xiv. 99. I swadled him in a scurvie swathel-binding.
