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.

1

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.

2

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2034. Þenn dressed he his drurye double hym aboute; Swyþe sweþled vmbe his swange swetely.

3

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., xiii. 433. I shall swedyll hym right In my credyll.

4

1535.  Coverdale, Job xxxviii. 9. When I made the cloudes to be a coueringe for it, and swedled it with ye darcke. Ibid., Ezek. xvi. 4. Thou wast nether rubbed with salt, ner swedled in cloutes.

5

1615.  Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 129. Thou hardly had a lapp to swedle thee.

6

  Hence Sweddling ppl. a. (in quot., ? wrapped in swaddling-clothes).

7

a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl. (E.E.T.S.), viii. 392. That ilke swedling swayne I shall swap of his head.

8