Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CRAIDLE, CRADDLE, CRED(D)LE, Credill, n. and v. Sc. variants of Eng. cradle, lit. and fig. Also attrib. The Eng. form is exemplified only in usages peculiar to Sc. [kredl, krɑdl, krɛdl]
1. n. As in Eng. (Bnff.2, Abd.2 1940, craidle; Ags.17 (craidle, craddle), Slg.3 (creddle), Kcb.10 1940).n.Sc. 1743 Unpubl. Letters Simon 12th Lord Lovat in Gael. Soc. Inv. (1886) 378:
But he . . . carried the poor infant away in a credill a horseback.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 170:
Loungin' aboot the room wi' his airm in a creddle.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 359:
Some craddle fright, or some auld wight, Did swarf the young Mackie laddie.
Combs.: †(1) cradle-chimlay, “the large grate, of an oblong form, open at all sides for the emission of the heat, which is used in what is called a round-about fireside; denominated from its resemblance to a cradle” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2); (2) craidle-roller, “a roller, or clod-crusher, with a low frame without shafts” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 31; Abd.9 1940); (3) creddlie-ba', -byes, see Cradlie-Ba'; (4) grand craidles, small cowrie shells of which necklaces were made (Bwk. 1953); (5) the cradle end, the beginning.(5)Per. 1881 R. Ford Sc. Readings 55:
The cradle end o' my story.
2. v.
(1) As in Eng.: to rear (a child).Lnk. 1923 G. Rae 'Mang Lowland Hills 37:
I, Jeems Macfarlane, credled in Dunsyre, Schuled in Carnwath, whaur antrin white craws flee.
(2) To build the stone-work of a well shaft.wm.Sc. [1835–37] Laird of Logan (1868) 173:
There's no a well . . . in the hale kintraside that I hae cradled . . . e'er been kent to break down or let in surface water.
Hence cradling, vbl.n., “stone walling of a shaft” (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Sc. Mining Terms 21; Ayr. 1947 (per Edb.6)).
†(3) To reduce to a childish state. Found only as ppl.adj.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 40:
The mind's ay cradled whan the grave is near.
