Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, 11th Edition
BOOTSTRAP
I. noun
Date: 1875
a looped strap sewed at the side or the rear top of a boot to help in pulling it on, unaided efforts,
II. adjective
Date: 1926
designed to function independently of outside direction ; capable of using one internal function or process to control another , carried out with minimum resources or advantages ; self-reliant ,
III. transitive verb
Date: 1951
to promote or develop by initiative and effort with little or no assistance , bootstrapper noun