Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A board or frame on which an infant is secured, as by binding or wrapping in a blanket, used by certain Native American peoples as a portable cradle and for carrying an infant on the back.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A traditional Native American board used for carrying a baby.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

cradle +‎ board

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Examples

  • While the baby was still in her cradleboard, they returned again to Cane Valley.

    Yellow Dirt Judy Pasternak 2010

  • The following summer, with her baby in the cradleboard on her back, Dehgewanus and Shenijee started a remarkable journey.

    History of American Women Maggiemac 2008

  • One of the other girls had asked her whether she meant to find wood for another bowl like the one she had made for her mother; Works With Her Hands had said-with a quick, warm look toward Ian, who lounged nearby with the other young men-that no, she wished to find a good red cedar, for wood to make a cradleboard.

    A Breath of Snow and Ashes Gabaldon, Diana 2005

  • The second was actually a cradleboard-a baby carrier constructed of a wooden base covered with soft animal skin.

    Warrior's Baby Whitefeather, Sheri 2000

  • It was then that he had seen the Indian girl standing on Claire's other side, with a cradleboard in her arms.

    Drums of Autumn Gabaldon, Diana 1997

  • One of the older women held a cradleboard, and without hesitation she walked up to Roger and pressed it into his arms, saying something in Mohawk.

    Drums of Autumn Gabaldon, Diana 1997

  • He took the cradleboard, gave it to the grandmother, then dipping a sprig of juniper into the bowl of water, sprinkled water on the baby's head.

    Drums of Autumn Gabaldon, Diana 1997

  • "C-est bien, " he said, and taking a deep breath, lifted the cradleboard, showing the child to the congregation.

    Drums of Autumn Gabaldon, Diana 1997

  • He swayed briefly, and the old lady, alarmed, reached out a hand to steady the cradleboard.

    Drums of Autumn Gabaldon, Diana 1997

  • Deep in the brush twenty yards from the wickiup, Hannah found the squalling baby tied in its cradleboard and strung from a bush.

    The Pride of Hannah Wade Janet Dailey 1985

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