cratch cradle

A truly historic game taught by children to each other, is what is called cats-cradle or cratch-cradle.

If Hone's derivation of the game and its meaning is true, cratch-cradle is the correct name.

They learned to play "cratch cradle," and when they did this the names of every thing used were learned.

Some children call this game "cat's cradle," but it should be "cratch cradle."

(b) Nares suggests that the proper name is “Cratch Cradle,” and is derived from the archaic word cratch, meaning a manger.