1. loops or tabs sewn at the back or sides of boots to help in pulling them on
2. one’s own efforts or resources, especially in the phrase ‘pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps’
Usage: idiomatic

Examples

• The cowboy boots had leather bootstraps for easy pulling.
• She grabbed the bootstraps and tugged her boots on quickly.
• He pulled himself up by his bootstraps after losing his job.
• The company succeeded by its bootstraps without any investors.
• They built their business from the bootstraps with no outside funding.
• The old boots had worn bootstraps that needed replacing.