ladder-back
UK[ˈlædə bæk]US[ˈlædər bæk]
n
A chair with a back consisting of a series of horizontal slats between two upright posts, resembling a ladder.
adj
Designating a chair or other furniture having such a back.
Morpheme Breakdown
ladder
back
ladder
a piece of equipment for climbing
back
the rear part of something
Etymology
The compound noun "ladder-back" is a straightforward descriptive formation from two native English words. "Ladder," a tool with parallel rungs used for climbing, has ancient Germanic roots. "Back," referring to the rear supporting part of a chair, also originates from Old English. The term emerged in furniture-making to vividly describe a specific design where the chair's backrest is constructed from horizontal slats fixed between two vertical posts, creating a visual and structural resemblance to a common ladder. This literal, image-based naming logic makes the term's meaning immediately transparent.
Analysis
Structure: ladder (a piece of equipment for climbing) + back (the rear part of something)
- ladder: From Old English hlǣd(d)er, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch ladder and German Leiter. A noun functioning as a modifier describing the appearance.
- back: From Old English bæc, of Germanic origin. A noun denoting the part of an object being described.
Examples
The antique shop had a set of four oak ladder-back chairs around a pine table.
She preferred the ladder-back design for its simplicity and good back support.
The ladder-back rocking chair was a cherished heirloom passed down through generations.