Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Cat \Cat\, n. [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw. kett, Icel.
   k["o]ttr, G. katze, kater, Ir. Cat, W. cath, Armor. kaz, LL.
   catus, Bisc. catua, NGr. ?, ?, Russ. & Pol. cot, Turk. kedi,
   Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. CF. {Ketten}.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) An animal of various species of the genera
      {Felis} and {Lynx}. The domestic cat is {Felis domestica}.
      The European wild cat ({Felis catus}) is much larger than
      the domestic cat. In the United States the name {wild cat}
      is commonly applied to the bay lynx ({Lynx rufus}) See
      {Wild cat}, and {Tiger cat}.

   Note: The domestic cat includes many varieties named from
         their place of origin or from some peculiarity; as, the
         {Angora cat}; the {Maltese cat}; the {Manx cat}.

   Note: The word cat is also used to designate other animals,
         from some fancied resemblance; as, civet cat, fisher
         cat, catbird, catfish shark, sea cat.

   2. (Naut.)
      (a) A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting
          quarters, and deep waist. It is employed in the coal
          and timber trade.
      (b) A strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the
          cathead of a ship. --Totten.

   3. A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six
      feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever
      position in is placed.

   4. An old game;
      (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which it is
          played. See {Tipcat}.
      (c) A game of ball, called, according to the number of
          batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.

   5. A cat o' nine tails. See below.

   {Angora cat}, {blind cat}, See under {Angora}, {Blind}.

   {Black cat} the fisher. See under {Black}.

   {Cat and dog}, like a cat and dog; quarrelsome; inharmonious.
      ``I am sure we have lived a cat and dog life of it.''
      --Coleridge.

   {Cat block} (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large
      hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to
      the cathead.

   {Cat hook} (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block.

   {Cat nap}, a very short sleep. [Colloq.]

   {Cat o' nine tails}, an instrument of punishment consisting
      of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a
      handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare
      back.

   {Cat's cradle}, game played, esp. by children, with a string
      looped on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The
      string is transferred from the fingers of one to those of
      another, at each transfer with a change of form. See
      {Cratch}, {Cratch cradle}.

   {To let the cat out of the bag}, to tell a secret, carelessly
      or willfully. [Colloq.]

   {Bush cat}, the serval. See {Serval}.

Cradle \Cra"dle\ (kr[=a]d'l), n. [AS. cradel, cradol, prob. from
   Celtic; cf. Gael. creathall, Ir. craidhal, W. cryd a shaking
   or rocking, a cradle; perh. akin to E. crate.]
   1. A bed or cot for a baby, oscillating on rockers or
      swinging on pivots; hence, the place of origin, or in
      which anything is nurtured or protected in the earlier
      period of existence; as, a cradle of crime; the cradle of
      liberty.

            The cradle that received thee at thy birth.
                                                  --Cowper.

            No sooner was I crept out of my cradle But I was
            made a king, at nine months old.      --Shak.

   2. Infancy, or very early life.

            From their cradles bred together.     --Shak.

            A form of worship in which they had been educated
            from their cradles. --Clarendon.

   3. (Agric.) An implement consisting of a broad scythe for
      cutting grain, with a set of long fingers parallel to the
      scythe, designed to receive the grain, and to lay it
      evenly in a swath.

   4. (Engraving) A tool used in mezzotint engraving, which, by
      a rocking motion, raises burrs on the surface of the
      plate, so preparing the ground.

   5. A framework of timbers, or iron bars, moving upon ways or
      rollers, used to support, lift, or carry ships or other
      vessels, heavy guns, etc., as up an inclined plane, or
      across a strip of land, or in launching a ship.

   6. (Med.)
      (a) A case for a broken or dislocated limb.
      (b) A frame to keep the bedclothes from contact with the
          person.

   7. (Mining)
      (a) A machine on rockers, used in washing out auriferous
          earth; -- also called a {rocker}. [U.S.]
      (b) A suspended scaffold used in shafts.

   8. (Carp.) The ribbing for vaulted ceilings and arches
      intended to be covered with plaster. --Knight.

   9. (Naut.) The basket or apparatus in which, when a line has
      been made fast to a wrecked ship from the shore, the
      people are brought off from the wreck.

   {Cat's cradle}. See under {Cat}.

   {Cradle hole}, a sunken place in a road, caused by thawing,
      or by travel over a soft spot.

   {Cradle scythe}, a broad scythe used in a cradle for cutting
      grain.

Source : WordNet®

cat's cradle
     n : a game played with string looped over the fingers