ladder English · revision 10457

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=971|origins=gem-pro *hlaidrijō|origins=ine-pro *ḱley-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlad.ə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈlæd.ɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English laddere, [[inh|ang|hlǣder|t=ladder, steps]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Proto-Germanic *hlaidri,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) source also of Dutch leer and German [[m|de|Leiter]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from a suffixed form of PIE *klei-, to lean (see [[lean]]),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) source also of Greek [[m|grc|κλῖμαξ|tr=klîmax|t=ladder]] (see [[climax]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An appliance of two side pieces and rungs for climbing: 971.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Figurative use, a means of rising, is from late Old English (about 1175).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In late Old English the rungs were læddrestæfas and the side pieces ledder steles.^(Etymonline) The steps to a gallows are from before 1533.^(OED 1989) A run in a knitted garment or stocking is from 1838,^(OED 1989) and in naval gunnery a series of range-finding shots from 1922.^(OED 1989) The superstitious avoidance of walking under a ladder is attested by 1787.^(Etymonline) The verb, to scale with a ladder, is late Middle English, and of stockings, to develop a ladder, is later.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 971 – a ladder.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1175 – a means of rising (figurative).^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1533 – the gallows steps.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1787 – unlucky to walk under.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1838 – a ladder in a stocking.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A structure of two long sides joined by rungs, used for climbing up or down.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A series of ranked stages: ''the social ladder''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' A run in a stocking or knitted fabric.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # Of stockings, to develop a run.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[ladderlike]]

+ * [[ladderless]]

+ * [[ladderman]]

+ * [[ladderway]]

+ * [[ladder-back]]

+ * [[stepladder]]

+ * [[accommodation ladder]]

+ * [[aerial ladder]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[climax]]

+ * [[clinic]]

+ * [[lean]]

+ * [[incline]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}