From en.wiktionary.org:
** English
*** Verb
[en]
1. [en]
*** Noun
[en-noun]
1. The act by which one cradle s a child etc.
2. * {{ quote-text | en | year=1967 | author=Stuart A. Altmann | title=Social communication among primates
|passage=About four thousand CRADLINGS were observed among five mother-infant
pairs during the first 15 weeks of each infant's life.}}
1. The act of using a cradle (the tool).
2. [en] The cutting of a cask into two pieces lengthwise , to enable it to pass a narrow place, the two parts being afterwards united and rehoop ed.
3. [en] The framework in arched or coved ceiling s to which the lath s are nail ed.
4. * [en]
*** References
- [R:Webster 1913]