CRADLE, a child's bed of wood, wicker or iron, with enclosed sides, slung upon pivots or mounted on rockers (of uncertain etymology, possibly connected with "crate" and "creel," i.e., basket). It is a very an cient piece of furniture, but the date when it first assumed its characteristic swinging or rocking form is by no means clear. A miniature in an illuminated Histoire de la belle Helaine in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris (end of the 14th or beginning of the 15th century) shows an infant sleeping in a tiny four-post bed slung upon rockers. In its oldest forms the cradle is an oblong oak box without a lid—originally the rockers appear to have been detachable— but, like all other household appliances, it has been subject to changes of fashion alike in shape and adornment. It has been panelled and carved, supported on Renaissance pillars, inlaid with marqueterie or mounted in gilded bronze. The original simple shape persisted for two or three centuries—even the hood made its . appearance very early. In the i8th century, however, cradles were often very elaborate—in deed in France they had begun to be so much earlier, but the richly carved and upholstered examples were used chiefly for purposes of State, being in fact miniature lits de parade. In modern times they have become lighter and simpler, the old hood being very often replaced by a draped cur tain hanging from a carved or shaped upright. By analogy, the word "cradle" is also applied to various sorts of framework in engineering, and to a rocking-tool used in engraving.