ROCK (4)

Rock (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rocked (?);p. pr. & vb. n. Rocking.] [[AS. roccian; akin to Dan. rokke to move, to snake; cf. Icel. rukkja to pull, move, G. rücken to move, push, pull.]] 1. 1. To cause to sway backward and forward, as a body resting on a support beneath; as, to rock a cradle or chair; to cause to vibrate; to cause to reel or totter.
A rising earthquake rocked the ground. Dryden. 2. 2. To move as in a cradle; hence, to put to sleep by rocking; to still; to quiet. “Sleep rock thy brain.” Shak.
☞ Rock differs from shake, as denoting a slower, less violent, and more uniform motion, or larger movements. It differs from swing, which expresses a vibratory motion of something suspended.