The word "swathe" has multiple meanings, depending on its context.
1) In a general sense, it can refer to something that is wrapped or covered in a wide cloth bandage, similar to how a mummy would be wrapped in strips of linen.
2) It can also mean to encircle or surround an area with something, such as a swathe of destruction left by a natural disaster like a tornado or hurricane.
3) In agriculture, it refers to cutting down a wide strip of grass or crops at once, typically using machinery. This is known as "swathing."