Cratch (kr?ch; 224), n. [OE. crache, creche, F. crche crib, manger, fr. OHG. krippa, krippea,G. krippe crib. See Crib.]
A manger or open frame for hay; a crib; a rack.
[Obs.]
Begin from first where He encradled was,
In simple cratch, wrapt in a wad of hay.
Spenser.
Cratch cradle, a representation of the figure of the cratch, made upon the fingers with a string; cat's cradle; -- called also scratch cradle.
© Webster 1913.