cradle English · revision 976

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈkɹeɪdəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|cradel]], [[inh|ang|cradol|t=little bed, cot]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[gem-pro|*kradulaz]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to Old High German ''kratto'' “basket”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A little bed for an infant, properly one mounted on rockers (c. 1000).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From the 14th century the word was used of various frameworks for holding, supporting or hoisting things,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) such as the support for a ship under construction.^(AHD)^(RHWU) In farming a ''cradle'' was a frame of long wooden teeth fixed to a scythe for laying grain as it was cut (1573).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Figuratively a cradle is the place where something is nurtured in its early stage (1590),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) as in ''the cradle of civilization''.^(AHD)^(RHWU) The telephone cradle dates from 1903.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1000 – a baby's bed.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1379 – a framework of bars or rods.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1573 – a frame attached to a scythe.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590 – a place of origin or nurture.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1768 – ''cat's cradle''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1903 – the rest of a telephone receiver.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A small low bed for an infant, usually on rockers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The earliest period of life; [[infancy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A place of origin or early development, as in ''the cradle of democracy''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A framework that supports something, such as a ship under repair, an injured limb or a telephone receiver.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A frame of long teeth attached to a [[scythe]], used for cutting grain.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A box on rockers used for washing gold-bearing earth.^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hold gently and protectively, as in ''cradled the child's head''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To place in or as if in a cradle; to care for in infancy.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To cut (grain) with a cradle.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cradler]]

+ * [[cradlesong]]

+ * [[cradle-to-grave]]

+ * [[cat's cradle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crib]]

+ * [[cot]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}