From Middle English swathe, swath, from Old English swaþu, swæþ (“bandage”), probably akin to Old English swaþul, sweþel (“a swathe, wrap, band, bandage”).
From Middle English swathen, from Old English *swaþian, akin to Old English besweþian (“to swathe, swaddle”).
Meanings
To bind with a swathe, band, bandage, or rollers
Josie herself looked animated and almost royal with the white bandage which swathed her forehead like a crown. 1980 December 27, Andrea Loewenstein, “Voices in the Night”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 23, page 12:
Their children are never swathed, or bound about with any thing when they are first born' but are put naked into the bed with their parents to lie. 1664, A briefe description of the whole world wherein is particularly described all the monarchies, empires, and kingdoms of the same, with their academies, as also their severall titles and scituations thereunto adjoyning, Archbishop Abbot, quoted in A Dictionary of the English Language, Samuel Johnson, 1755
The head was swathed in linen bands that had been white, but were now stained and discoloured with damp, but of this I shall not speak more, and beneath the chin-cloth the beard had once escaped. [1898], J[ohn] Meade Falkner, Moonfleet, London; Toronto, Ont.: Jonathan Cape, published 1934, →OCLC:
fi kääriä (bandage) · mi tāpeka (bandage) · ca embenar (bandage) · de umwickeln (bandage) · de einhüllen (bandage) · bg бинтовам (bandage) · uk забинтува́ти (bandage) · fi sitoa (bandage) · uk бинтува́ти (bandage) · mi tākaikai (bandage) · de einwickeln (bandage)
2012, The Economist, Sep 29th 2012 issue, Venezuela’s presidential election: The autocrat and the ballot box
As well as the advantages of abused office, Mr Chávez can boast enduring popularity among a broad swathe of poorer Venezuelans. They like him for his charisma, humble background and demotic speech.
The female leads who cut a swathe through the centuries 2014 May 24, The Guardian:
United's stature is such that one result must not bring the immediate announcement of a shift in the balance of power in Manchester - but the swathes of empty seats around Old Trafford and the wave of attacks pouring towards David de Gea's goal in the second half emphasised that City quite simply have greater firepower and talent in their squad at present. 2011 October 23, Phil McNulty, “Man Utd 1 - 6 Man City”, in BBC Sport:
Colleges say 'swathe of cuts' threatens adult education 2015 March 25, BBC:
Thomas Brassey (1805-70) should be equally famous, yet he is unknown to swathes of the greater populace. His plaque is at Chester. 2021 December 29, Stephen Roberts, “Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Chester (1848)”, in RAIL, number 947, page 57: