E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Cat’s Cradle.
A child’s play, with a piece of twine. Corrupt for cratchcradle or manger cradle, in which the infant Saviour was laid. Cratch is the French crèch (a rack or manger), and to the present hour the racks which stand in fields for cattle to eat from are called cratches.
(a rack or manger), and to the present hour the racks which stand in fields for cattle to eat from are called cratches.
