1. noun
a) A loop (leather or other material) sewn at the side or top rear of a boot to help in pulling the boot on.
He used his business experience as a bootstrap to win voters.
b) A means of advancing oneself or accomplishing something without aid.
See Also: booting, cold boot
2. verb
Sam spent years bootstrapping himself through college.
b) To load the operating system into the memory of a computer. Usually shortened to boot.
Bootstrapping means building the GNU C Library, GNU Compiler Collection and several other key system programs.[
See Also: reboot
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