The Collaborative International Dictionary
Cradle \Cra"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cradled (-d'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Cradling (-dl?ng).]
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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. -
To nurse or train in infancy.
He that hath been cradled in majesty will not leave the throne to play with beggars.
--Glanvill. To cut and lay with a cradle, as grain.
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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.
Cradling \Cra"dling\ (-dl?ng), n.
The act of using a cradle.
(Coopering) Cutting a cask into two pieces lengthwise, to enable it to pass a narrow place, the two parts being afterward united and rehooped.
(Carp.) The framework in arched or coved ceilings to which the laths are nailed.
--Knight.
Wiktionary
n. 1 The act by which one cradles a child etc. 2 The act of using a cradle (the tool). 3 (context coopering English) The cutting of a cask into two pieces lengthwise, to enable it to pass a narrow place, the two parts being afterwards united and rehooped. 4 (context carpentry English) The framework in arched or coved ceilings to which the laths are nailed. vb. (present participle of cradle English)
Wikipedia
Cradling is a process used in the restoration and preservation of paintings on wooden panel. It consists in mounting a grid of wooden slats to the back of a painting to create a reinforcement and preserve the flat paint surface.
Slats in either the horizontal or vertical direction are permanently fixed to the back of the panel, whilst the secondary perpendicular slats remain loose, held solely in place by the upper row. This allows for a degree of movement in the panel, which may warp, subject to changing levels of dampness and atmospheric pressure.
This procedure can often be found on Old Master paintings of the 16th and 17th Century, when painting on wood and particularly oak panel was widely practiced.
There are numerous reasons for choosing to cradle a panel. This can be done to piece back together a painting which has split and cracked over time. It can also be done to consolidate, preserve or straighten back a panel which may have warped.
There are detrimental factors to consider before cradling a painting. It is an interventive procedure which may involve sanding the back of the panel in order to create a flat surface to affix the cradling. It is a non reversible procedure which alters the condition and state of a work of art, which triggers ethical issues.
Usage examples of "cradling".
He caught her up against him, cradling the back of her head in one hand, while the other went to her hip and drew her against his pelvis.
When the door closed behind the Wynth brothers, Brelan moved sat at the head of the bed, taking Liza in his arms and cradling her against his chest.
Shari said, cradling the child in one arm and the bullpup in the other.
He watched the occasional truck driver walking back out of the restaurant building, cradling a thermos of coffee or some carryout gut bomb from the choke and puke inside.
He tore off his helmet and threw it down, gingerly cradling Crinion in his arms.
He touched the lobe of her ear, caressed the curve of her neck before slipping his long fingers into her hair, tunneling through the dark red curls, cradling her head.
Didius Falco: half-asleep and cradling a wine cup Bit early, Falco, even for you?
Johnny stood in the doorway, still cradling the herbicidal bomb, the orbicular symbol and the reality of his power.
Two mujahedin were sitting cross-legged on the floor, wrapped in blankets and cradling their AKs.
Young women hugging theirsweethearts, young mothers cradling infants in their arms, shivering in the cold, shawls draped overshoulders and hiding saddened faces, for only a woman can know the true cost of war.
Ina and Anna, the residua of our mistakenly aggressive approach, were still on the ward, slowly returning to their cradling dementia.
Another Shoshoni jumped off his pony to take it, cradling almost a hundred pounds of raw meat and bones in his arms.
We sat across from each other in two great armchairs, cradling our brandies, and I nervously pondered my next move, for it was clear to me that the Count could sense my unease.
He stumbled forward, cradling the yellow bulk of the chunker, vaguely aware that there was something wrong with his arm.
She slid forward onto her elbows, cradling her chin in her hands, and regarded the tower with an almost satisfied air.