If you swaddle a baby, you wrap cloth around it in order to keep it warm or to prevent it from moving. Swaddle your newborn baby so that she feels secure. a baby swaddled in silk brocade. to wrap a baby tightly to keep it warm and protect it (Probably from sweddle (13-17 centuries), from swethel )
[ 'swä-d&l ] (transitive verb.) 14th century. Middle English swadelen, swathelen, probably alteration of swedelen, swethelen, from swethel swaddling band, from Old English; akin to Old English swathian to swathe.