Cat's cradle

This article is about the specific string game, Cat's cradle. For string figures and games in general, see string figure.
For other uses, see Cat's cradle (disambiguation).
"Cradle", the first (and opening) position of Cat's cradle
"Cat's eye to fish in a dish" illustration from Jayne (1906)

Cat's cradle is a game involving the creation of various string figures between the fingers, either individually or by passing a loop of string back and forth between two or more players. The true origin of the name is debated, though the first known reference is in The light of nature pursued by Abraham Tucker in 1768.[1] The type of string, the specific figures, their order, and the names of the figures vary. Independent versions of this game have been found in indigenous cultures throughout the world, including in Africa, Eastern Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia, the Americas, and the Arctic.[2]: page 161 [3][4]

  1. ^ Martin, Gary. "'Cat's Cradle' - the meaning and origin of this phrase". Phrasefinder. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  2. ^ Henry B. Collins (1964) [First published 1888]. introduction. The Central Eskimo. By Boas, Franz. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-5016-9.
  3. ^ Zgheib, Yara (2017-12-21). "Cat's Cradle". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-01-16.
  4. ^ Archives, National Anthropological (2010-05-13). "Cat's Cradle". Smithsonian Collections Blog. Retrieved 2018-01-16.