extension ladder

noun

1. a ladder having two or more sections joined by a sliding mechanism that allows the ladder to be extended to the total length.

Word History and Origins

Origin of extension ladder¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Several neighbors reportedly placed an extension ladder to the upstairs bedroom but were unable to get the children out.

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Two firefighters stood on 20-foot extension ladders and fought the flames in the attic, trying to establish a horizontal line to sweep the fire with water.

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They tipped over a 24-foot extension ladder from the shore to a small island in the water and crawled across the rungs.

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Painting two stories means extension ladders and scaffolding — probably contractor territory.

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Labor Director Michael Kleinik says safety precautions are vital when climibing, “from the smallest step ladder to the tallest extension ladder.”

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