Bootstrap

a loop of leather or cloth sewn at the top rear, or sometimes on each side, of a boot to facilitate pulling it on.
a means of advancing oneself or accomplishing something:
He used his business experience as a bootstrap to win voters.
relying entirely on one’s efforts and resources:
The business was a bootstrap operation for the first ten years.
self-generating or self-sustaining:
a bootstrap process.
Computers. boot1 (def 24).
to help (oneself) without the aid of others:
She spent years bootstrapping herself through college.
pull oneself up by one’s bootstraps, to help oneself without the aid of others; use one’s resources:
I admire him for pulling himself up by his own bootstraps.
Contemporary Examples

Death on Killer Mountain Amanda Padoan July 5, 2013
Impeach the Supreme Court Justices If They Overturn Health-Care Law David R. Dow April 2, 2012

Historical Examples

Space Platform Murray Leinster
Space Platform Murray Leinster
Space Platform Murray Leinster
Space Platform Murray Leinster
Space Platform Murray Leinster
Space Platform Murray Leinster
Space Platform Murray Leinster
Space Tug Murray Leinster

noun
a leather or fabric loop on the back or side of a boot for pulling it on
by one’s bootstraps, by one’s own bootstraps, by one’s own efforts; unaided
(modifier) self-acting or self-sufficient, as an electronic amplifier that uses its output voltage to bias its input

Also boot. a technique for loading the first few program instructions into a computer main store to enable the rest of the program to be introduced from an input device
(as modifier): a bootstrap loader

(commerce) an offer to purchase a controlling interest in a company, esp with the intention of purchasing the remainder of the equity at a lower price
verb (transitive) -straps, -strapping, -strapped
to set up or achieve (something) using minimal resources
(foll by to) to attach (something) to a larger or more important thing
n.