[boot.strap] n (1913) 1 pl: unaided efforts--often used in the phrase by one's own bootstraps
2: a looped strap sewed at the side or the rear top of a boot to help in pulling it on
[2]bootstrap adj (1926) 1: designed to function independently of outside direction: capable of using one internal function or process to control another "a ~ operation to load a computer"
2: carried out with minimum resources or advantages: self-reliant "the city recovered from the flood by the ~ method" [3]bootstrap vt (1951): to promote or develop by initiative and effort with little or no assistance "bootstrapped herself to the top"