swathe
UK: sweɪð | US: sweɪð
n. a long strip or area of something (e.g., land, fabric)
vt. to wrap or bind with a bandage or cloth
vt. to envelop or surround something completely
swathe = swath<long strip> + e (variant spelling)
- swath (from Old English swæþ "track, trace, footprint," later "a row of cut grass")
- e (a silent letter added in Middle English, possibly for phonetic or orthographic consistency)
Etymology Origin:
The word swathe traces back to Old English swæþ, meaning "track" or "footprint," reflecting the idea of a marked path or strip. Over time, it evolved to denote a row of cut grass or grain, emphasizing linear continuity. The verb form emerged from the action of wrapping or binding, akin to covering a surface in strips. The silent -e was added later, likely under French or Latin influence, though it doesn’t alter the core meaning.
The combine harvester left a wide swathe of cut wheat in the field.
She carefully swathed the baby in a soft blanket.
Fog swathed the valley, obscuring the view.
A swathe of forest was cleared for the new highway.
The knight’s body was swathed in bandages after the battle.