The plural of bootstrap; multiple loops on boots, or figuratively, one's own resources and abilities. The phrase 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' means to improve your situation through your own effort.
From 'bootstrap' (from 'boot' + 'strap') + plural '-s' (Old English '-es'). The plural form has been used literally for centuries and figuratively since the 1800s.
The phrase 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' became so popular that people often forget it literally means doing something physically impossible—which is why it's so clever as a metaphor for remarkable achievement! Every time someone talks about self-improvement, they're echoing centuries-old boot-pulling wisdom.
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