Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1900-2000
Origin: bootstrap 'piece of leather or cloth attached to the back of a boot to make it easier to pull on' (19-20 centuries)

bootstraps

 noun
     
boot‧straps [plural]

pull/haul yourself up by your bootstraps

to improve your position and get out of a difficult situation by your own efforts, without help from other people
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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