Crane (machine)
WEBEtymology. Cranes were so called from the resemblance to the long neck of the bird, cf. Ancient Greek: γερανός, French grue.. History Ancient Near East. The first type of crane machine was the shadouf, which had a lever mechanism and was used to lift water for irrigation. It was invented in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) circa 3000 BC. The shadouf .