swaddling clothes

Noun

swaddling clothes pl (plural only)

1. (plural, plural-only) A garment, made of strips of cloth, used to bind an infant and restrict movement of its limbs.
2. (idiomatic, plural, plural-only) An early period in development, infancy, the beginnings of something; inception.
   • The steel—industry wore swaddling clothes when the first walkout occurred exactly 100 years ago.1952, Steel Industry Union Strife Has Been In Progress For Even Century, "The Day" issue of June the 4th, 1952
   • The Air Force Academy, baby brother to West Point and Annapolis, is crawling out of its swaddling clothes.1954, Academy Site May Be Chosen May 15, St Petersburg Times, 11 May issue