a framework of iron or wood, esp as used in the construction of a ceiling
cradling in American English
(ˈkreidlɪŋ)
noun
framework for supporting a coved or vaulted ceiling
Word origin
[1810–20; cradle + -ing1]This word is first recorded in the period 1810–20. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: dominance, liberalism, rationalize, realism, triangulation-ing is a suffix of nouns formed from verbs, expressing the action of the verb or itsresult, product, material, etc. (the art of building; a new building; cotton wadding). It is also used to form nouns from words other than verbs (offing; shirting). Verbal nouns ending in -ing are often used attributively (the printing trade) and in forming compounds (drinking song). In some compounds (sewing machine), the first element might reasonably be regarded as the participial adjective, -ing, the compound thus meaning “a machine that sews,” but it is commonly taken as a verbalnoun, the compound being explained as “a machine for sewing”
Examples of 'cradling' in a sentence
cradling
The courtroom is full of guards cradling machineguns.