Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Cradle

Cra′dle

(krād’l)
,
Noun.
[AS.
cradel
,
cradol
, prob. from Celtic; cf. Gael.
creathall
, Ir.
craidhal
, W.
cryd
a shaking or rocking, a cradle; perh. akin to E.
crate
.]
1.
A bed or cot for a baby, oscillating on rockers or swinging on pivots; hence, the place of origin, or in which anything is nurtured or protected in the earlier period of existence;
as, a
cradle
of crime; the
cradle
of liberty
.
The
cradle
that received thee at thy birth.
Cowper.
No sooner was I crept out of my
cradle

But I was made a king, at nine months old.
Shakespeare
2.
Infancy, or very early life.
From their
cradles
bred together.
Shakespeare
A form of worship in which they had been educated from their
cradles
.
Clarendon.
3.
(Agric.)
An implement consisting of a broad scythe for cutting grain, with a set of long fingers parallel to the scythe, designed to receive the grain, and to lay it evenly in a swath.
4.
(Engraving)
A tool used in mezzotint engraving, which, by a rocking motion, raises burrs on the surface of the plate, so preparing the ground.
5.
A framework of timbers, or iron bars, moving upon ways or rollers, used to support, lift, or carry ships or other vessels, heavy guns, etc., as up an inclined plane, or across a strip of land, or in launching a ship.
6.
(Med.)
(a)
A case for a broken or dislocated limb.
(b)
A frame to keep the bedclothes from contact with the person.
7.
(Mining)
(a)
A machine on rockers, used in washing out auriferous earth; – also called a
rocker
.
[U.S.]
(b)
A suspended scaffold used in shafts.
8.
(Carp.)
The ribbing for vaulted ceilings and arches intended to be covered with plaster.
Knight.
9.
(Naut.)
The basket or apparatus in which, when a line has been made fast to a wrecked ship from the shore, the people are brought off from the wreck.
Cat’s cradle
.
See under
Cat
.
–
Cradle hole
,
a sunken place in a road, caused by thawing, or by travel over a soft spot.
–
Cradle scythe
,
a broad scythe used in a cradle for cutting grain.

Cra′dle

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Cradled
(-d’ld)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Cradling
(-dl?ng)
.]
1.
To lay to rest, or rock, as in a cradle; to lull or quiet, as by rocking.
It
cradles
their fears to sleep.
D. A. Clark.
2.
To nurse or train in infancy.
He that hath been
cradled
in majesty will not leave the throne to play with beggars.
Glanvill.
3.
To cut and lay with a cradle, as grain.
4.
To transport a vessel by means of a cradle.
In Lombardy . . . boats are
cradled
and transported over the grade.
Knight.
To cradle a picture
,
to put ribs across the back of a picture, to prevent the panels from warping.

Cra′dle

,
Verb.
I.
To lie or lodge, as in a cradle.
Withered roots and husks wherein the acorn
cradled
.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition

Cradle

CRADLE

,
Noun.
[Gr., to swing.]
1.
A movable machine of various constructions, placed on circular pieces of board, for rocking children or inform persons to sleep, for alleviating pain, or giving moderate exercise.
Me let the tender office long engage, to rock the cradle of reposing age.
2.
Infancy. From the cradle, is from the state of infancy; in the cradle, in a state of infancy.
3.
That part of the stock of a cross-bow, where the bullet is put.
4.
In surgery, a case in which a broken leg is laid after being set.
5.
In ship-building, a frame placed under the bottom of a ship for launching. It supports the ship and slides down the timbers or passage called the ways.
6.
A standing bedstead for wounded seamen.
7.
In engraving, an instrument, formed of steel, and resembling a chisel, with one sloping side, used in scraping mezzotintos, and preparing the plate.
8.
In husbandry, a frame of wood, with long bending teeth, to which is fastened a sythe, for cutting and laying oats and other grain in a swath.

CRADLE

, v.t.
1.
To lay in a cradle; to rock in a cradle; to compose, or quiet.
It cradles their fears to sleep.
2.
To nurse in infancy.
3.
To cut and lay with a cradle, as grain.

CRADLE

,
Verb.
I.
To lie or lodge in a cradle.

Definition 2024

cradle

cradle

English

Cradle for the Queen of England.

Noun

cradle ‎(plural cradles)

  1. A bed or cot for a baby, oscillating on rockers or swinging on pivots.
    • Cowper
      the cradle that received thee at thy birth
    • Shakespeare
      No sooner was I crept out of my cradle / But I was made a king, at nine months old.
  2. (figuratively) The place of origin, or in which anything is nurtured or protected in the earlier period of existence.
    a cradle of crime
    the cradle of liberty
  3. (figuratively) Infancy, or very early life.
    from the cradle to the grave
    • Shakespeare
      from their cradles bred together
    • Clarendon
      a form of worship in which they had been educated from their cradles
  4. An implement consisting of a broad scythe for cutting grain, with a set of long fingers parallel to the scythe, designed to receive the grain, and to lay it evenly in a swath.
  5. A tool used in mezzotint engraving, which, by a rocking motion, raises burrs on the surface of the plate, so preparing the ground.
  6. A framework of timbers, or iron bars, moving upon ways or rollers, used to support, lift, or carry ships or other vessels, heavy guns, etc., as up an inclined plane, or across a strip of land, or in launching a ship.
  7. A case for a broken or dislocated limb.
  8. A frame to keep the bedclothes from contact with the sensitive parts of an injured person.
  9. (mining) A machine on rockers, used in washing out auriferous earth.
  10. (mining) A suspended scaffold used in shafts.
  11. (carpentry) A ribbing for vaulted ceilings and arches intended to be covered with plaster.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)
  12. (nautical) A basket or apparatus in which, when a line has been made fast to a wrecked ship from the shore, the people are brought off from the wreck.
    The cradle was ill-made. One victim fell into the sea and was lost and the ensuing delay cost three more lives.
  13. A rest for the receiver of a telephone, or for certain computer hardware.
    He slammed the handset into the cradle.
  14. (contact juggling) A hand position allowing a contact ball to be held steadily on the back of the hand.

Synonyms

  • (machine on rockers used in washing out auriferous earth): rocker
  • (rest for receiver of a telephone): rest

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Verb

cradle ‎(third-person singular simple present cradles, present participle cradling, simple past and past participle cradled)

  1. (transitive) To contain in or as if in a cradle.
  2. (transitive) To rock (a baby to sleep).
  3. (transitive) To wrap protectively.
    • cradling the injured man’s head in her arms
  4. To lull or quieten, as if by rocking.
    • D. A. Clark
      It cradles their fears to sleep.
  5. To nurse or train in infancy.
    • Glanvill
      He that hath been cradled in majesty will not leave the throne to play with beggars.
  6. (lacrosse) To rock the lacrosse stick back and forth in order to keep the ball in the head by means of centrifugal force.
  7. To cut and lay (grain) with a cradle.
  8. To transport a vessel by means of a cradle.
    • Knight
      In Lombardy […] boats are cradled and transported over the grade.
  9. To put ribs across the back of (a picture), to prevent the panels from warping.

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Old English cradol, from Proto-Germanic *kradulaz, *krad(a)la-, from the Proto-Germanic root *krad-. Cognates with cart.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: krāʹdəl, IPA(key): /ˈkreɪdəl/
  • Rhymes: -eɪdəl

Similar Results