I. ˈbüt-ˌstrap noun
Date: 1875
1. : a looped strap sewed at the side or the rear top of a boot to help in pulling it on
2. plural : unaided efforts — often used in the phrase by one's own bootstraps
II. adjective
Date: 1926
1. : designed to function independently of outside direction : capable of using one internal function or process to control another
a bootstrap operation to load a computer
2. : carried out with minimum resources or advantages : self-reliant
bootstrap efforts
III. transitive verb
Date: 1951
: to promote or develop by initiative and effort with little or no assistance
bootstrapped herself to the top
• boot·strap·per noun