Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - bootstrap

 I. noun  Date: 1875  1. a looped strap sewed at the side or the rear top of a boot to help in pulling it on  2. plural unaided efforts — often used in the phrase by one's own ~s  II. adjective  Date: 1926  1. designed to function independently of outside direction ; capable of using one internal function or process to control another a ~ operation to load a computer  2. carried out with minimum resources or advantages ; self-reliant ~ efforts  III. transitive verb  Date: 1951 to promote or develop by initiative and effort with little or no assistance ~ped herself to the top  • ~per noun