jacob's ladder
jacob's ladder Lexical Profile
• noun
A portable marine ladder made of rope or chain with wooden or metal rungs, suspended over the side of a ship to allow passengers or crew to board from a smaller vessel.
"The river pilot safely climbed aboard the massive freighter using a Jacob's ladder that had been lowered down the steep steel hull."
A perennial woodland plant of the genus Polemonium, native to temperate regions, characterized by pinnate leaves with paired leaflets that visually resemble the rungs of a ladder, and clusters of blue or white bell-shaped flowers.
"The gardener planted Jacob's ladder in the shaded border to add a touch of delicate blue against the spring foliage."
A high-voltage electrical apparatus consisting of two vertical, slightly diverging metal rods between which a continuous, rising electric arc is generated, often used in physics demonstrations.
"The science museum featured a large Jacob's ladder, captivating visitors as the bright, crackling electric sparks steadily traveled up the divergent wires."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the biblical story in Genesis 28:12, in which the patriarch Jacob dreams of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. The term was later applied to plants, nautical equipment, and electrical devices that share a visually sequential or ladder-like progression.