swathe

¹

[ swoth, sweyth ]

verb (used with object)

, swathed, swath·ing.

1. to wrap, bind, or swaddle with bands of some material; wrap up closely or fully.
2. to bandage.
3. to enfold or envelop, as wrappings do.
4. to wrap (cloth, rope, etc.) around something.

noun

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

swathe

²

[ swoth, sweyth ]

noun

1. swath.

swathe

/ sweɪð /

verb

1. to bandage (a wound, limb, etc), esp completely
2. to wrap a band, garment, etc, around, esp so as to cover completely; swaddle
3. to envelop

noun

1. a bandage or wrapping
2. a variant spelling of swath

Derived Forms

• ˈswathable, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swathe¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of swathe¹

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

Example Sentences

It shows their desire to attempt to mend fences with a swathe of the country some privately fear could turn against them if they don’t handle this well.

From BBC

Tropical Storm Trami dumped one month's worth of rain over large swathes of the northern Philippines in late October, leaving dozens of people dead.

From BBC

For a few hours, swathes of the Jewish community in a European capital felt as though they were under siege.

From BBC

The darkened stage, swathed in movie projector fog, seems like a studio set in which dreams are manufactured through live projections along with more traditional Hollywood means.

From Los Angeles Times

Large swathes of the state have been under water for several years after unprecedented flooding, which scientists say has been worsened by climate change.

From BBC

Related Words

• bandage
• clothe
• swaddle
• wrap