I.
past participle of ring
II. ˈrəŋ noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hrung crossbar; akin to Gothic hrunga staff and perhaps to Old English hring ring — more at ring
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a rounded crosspiece between the legs of a chair
b. : one of the crosspieces of a ladder
2. Scottish : a heavy staff or cudgel
3. : a spoke of a wheel
4. : a level in a hierarchy
rise a few rung s on the social scale — H. W. Van Loon