A loop of fabric or leather sewn on the back of a boot to help pull it on. The word now also means to help yourself or start something with minimal resources.
From 'boot' + 'strap' (from Old Norse 'stropp'). Originally a literal loop on boots, the figurative meaning emerged in the 1800s from the phrase 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' (something physically impossible, so metaphorically ambitious).
The phrase 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' became popular during America's industrial era—it perfectly captured the spirit of self-made success, even though it's physically impossible! Today, startup companies call themselves 'bootstrapped' if they start with no outside money.
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