LADDER

ladder, (o. eng. _hlaeder_; of teutonic origin, cf. dutch _leer_, ger. _leiter_; the ultimate origin is in the root seen in "lean," gr. [greek: klimax]), a set of steps or "rungs" between two supports to enable one to get up and down; usually made of wood and sometimes of metal or rope. ladders are generally movable, and differ from a staircase also in having only treads and no "risers." the term "jacob's ladder," taken from the dream of jacob in the bible, is applied to a rope ladder with wooden steps used at sea to go aloft, and to a common garden plant of the genus _polemonium_ on account of the ladder-like formation of the leaves. the flower known in england as solomon's seal is in some countries called the "ladder of heaven." lading (from "to lade," o. eng. _hladan_, to put cargo on board; cf. "load"), bill of, the document given as receipt by the master of a merchant vessel to the consignor of goods, as a guarantee for their safe delivery to the consignee. (see affreightment.)