ladder
UK[ˈlædə]US[ˈlædər]
n
A piece of equipment for climbing up and down, consisting of two long pieces of wood or metal joined by shorter pieces called rungs.
n
A series of stages or levels by which someone progresses or something develops, especially in a career or organization.
Etymology
The word 'ladder' originates from the Old English 'hlǣd(d)er', which is related to the Old Frisian 'hladder', the Middle Dutch 'ledere', and the Old High German 'leitara'. These all trace back to the Proto-Germanic 'hlaidrijō', a derivative of the Proto-Indo-European root 'ḱley-', meaning 'to lean' or 'to incline'. The conceptual logic is clear: a ladder is an object you lean against a surface. This ancient root also gave rise to words like 'lean' itself, illustrating the enduring connection between the object's function and its name. The modern spelling and pronunciation stabilized in Middle English, shedding the initial 'h' sound.
Analysis
The word 'ladder' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It is not productively formed from smaller, meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
He used a wooden ladder to clean the gutters.
She is determined to climb the corporate ladder.
A rope ladder was lowered from the helicopter for the rescue.