ladder

Meanings

A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or rounds acting as steps).
A series of stages by which one progresses to a better position.
The hierarchy or ranking system within an organization, such as the corporate ladder.
A length of unravelled fabric in a knitted garment, especially in nylon stockings; a run.
In the game of go, a sequence of moves following a zigzag pattern and ultimately leading to the capture of the attacked stones.

To arrange or form into a shape of a ladder.
To ascend (a building, a wall, etc.) using a ladder.
Of a knitted garment: to develop a ladder as a result of a broken thread.
To close in on a target with successive salvos, increasing or decreasing the shot range as necessary.

From Middle English ladder, laddre, from Old English hlǣder, from Proto-Germanic *hlaidrijō (compare Scots ledder, North Frisian ladder, Saterland Frisian Laadere, West Frisian ljedder, Dutch ladder, leer, German Leiter), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱleytro (compare Old Irish clithar ("hedge"), Umbrian 𐌊𐌋𐌄𐌈𐌓𐌀𐌌 ("stretcher")), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱley- ("to lean#Verb"). See [[lean, which is related to lid.

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