Cra"dle (krād'l), n. [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.
Shak.
2. Infancy, or very early life.
From their cradles bred together.
Shak.
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, v. 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, v. i. To lie or
lodge, as in a cradle.
Withered roots and husks wherein the acorn
cradled.
Shak.
