scaling ladder

American  

noun

1. a ladder for climbing high walls.

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scaling ladder British  

noun

1. a ladder used to climb high walls, esp one used formerly to enter a besieged town, fortress, etc

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Etymology

Origin of scaling ladder

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

scaling ladder

Meta styled Muse Spark as “the first step on our scaling ladder and the first product of a ground-up overhaul.”

From Barron's ● Apr. 8, 2026

A scaling ladder, it may be explained to the uninitiated, is about eight feet long—a single fire-proof bar, on which are short cross-pieces.

From The Voice on the Wire by Eustace Hale Ball

After some whispering they divided forces, and King Richard climbed up the old apple tree at the corner of the house while King Philip led his forces up the scaling ladder again.

From Chicken Little Jane by Lily Munsell Ritchie

Here, however, I was less fortunate, there being no way of entering the building, save by walking in through the gate, or climbing the walls with the help of a scaling ladder.

From Two Gallant Sons of Devon A Tale of the Days of Queen Bess by Edward S. Hodgson

Among them was Captain Bate, of the Actaeon, who was killed while about to mount a scaling ladder.

From How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves Updated to 1900 by William Henry Giles Kingston