[f. SWATHE v. + -ING1.]
1. The action of the verb SWATHE; wrapping or binding up; swaddling.
1375, etc. [implied in SWATHING-BAND, -CLOTHES, CLOUTS].
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 482/1. Swathynge of chyldyr.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., 185. The Pergamites … had a great affectation … in streight swathing of their children.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., VIII. 272. Swathing egregiously stops Bleeding.
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 198. They use no swathing to their Babes.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 489. The smallness of their feet is reckoned a principal part of their beauty, and no swathing is omitted … to give them that accomplishment.
2. concr. That with which something is swathed; a wrapping; a bandage; a swaddling-band; also fig. (Most commonly in pl.)
1652. Cotterell, trans. Calprenède’s Cassandra, II. 132. Putting his hands where he found his hurts paine him, he met with the plaisters and swathings which had bin applyed to them.
a. 1711. Ken, Sion, Poet. Wks. 1721, IV. 33. To … heal each Wound, which there is with soft Swathing bound.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), II. 630. Flannel swathing around the body.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., II. iii. 246. Were the earth unfurnished with this atmospheric swathing.
1884. J. Colborne, Hicks Pasha, 58. The women in a blue calico swathing.
1904. Budge, 3rd & 4th Egypt. Rooms Brit. Mus., 117. The linen swathings of mummified bodies.
