swaddling clothes

plural noun

1
: narrow strips of cloth wrapped around an infant to restrict movement
2
: limitations or restrictions imposed on the immature or inexperienced

Examples of swaddling clothes in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is pure prosecco fun from a family that has been making wine in Italy since Mary Queen of Scots was in swaddling clothes. Michael Alberty | For The Oregonian/oregonlive, oregonlive, 15 Jan. 2022 Jesus’ swaddling clothes prefigure his freeing us from death’s winding sheets. Alexandra Mullen, WSJ, 23 Dec. 2020 Yet in every variation the meaning shone through, as durable as a soul, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Patricia Lockwood, The New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swaddling clothes.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of swaddling clothes was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near swaddling clothes

Cite this Entry

“Swaddling clothes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swaddling%20clothes. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

swaddling clothes

noun plural
: narrow strips of cloth wrapped around an infant to restrict movement
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