swathe

[ swoth, sweyth ]

/ swɒð, sweɪð /

verb (used with object), swathed, swath·ing.

to wrap, bind, or swaddle with bands of some material; wrap up closely or fully.

to bandage.

to enfold or envelop, as wrappings do.

to wrap (cloth, rope, etc.) around something.

noun

a band of linen or the like in which something is wrapped; wrapping; bandage.

Nearby words

Origin of swathe

before 1050; (noun) Middle English; Old English *swæth or *swath (in swathum dative plural); cf. swaddle; (v.) Middle English swathen, late Old English swathian, derivative of the noun; cognate with Old Norse svatha

swathe

[ swoth, sweyth ]

/ swɒð, sweɪð /

noun

swath.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for swathes

The Thug, like many native Indians of his class—a low one—swathes his feet in strips of linen stuff.
The House of Strange Secrets|A. Eric Bayly
It swathes those impossible masses in draperies soothingly uncertain of outline.
In Defense of Women|H. L. Mencken
He rushed into the Home Field, jumping over the swathes till he was tired, and kicking the grass about with his feet.
Wood Magic|Richard Jefferies
Swathes as wide as 50 feet are thus treated, the grain being threshed out while the machine moves.
The Romance of Modern Mechanism|Archibald Williams

The Epeira interrupts her work, hurries to the giddy-pate, swathes him and takes her fill of him where he lies.
The Life of the Spider|J. Henri Fabre

British Dictionary definitions for swathes

swathe

/ (sweɪð) /

verb (tr)

to bandage (a wound, limb, etc), esp completely

to wrap a band, garment, etc, around, esp so as to cover completely; swaddle

to envelop

noun

a bandage or wrapping

a variant spelling of swath

Derived Formsswathable or swatheable, adjective

Word Origin for swathe

Old English swathian; related to swæthel swaddling clothes, Old High German swedil, Dutch zwadel; see swaddle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for swathes

swathe

Old English swaþian "to swathe," from swaðu "track, trace, band" (see swath). The noun meaning "infant's swaddling bands" was found in Old English as swaþum (dative plural).