Jacob's ladder

noun9

1. •
   A ladder leading to heaven.

   • Jacob's ladder; Christ is Jacob's ladder that reacheth up to heaven; and he that refuseth to go by this ladder thither, will scarce by other means get up so high. — 1691
2. •
   A flowering plant of the genus Polemonium.
3. •
   A high-voltage electrical device, often used as a visual effect in old movies, which has a pair of vertical electrodes that form an arc between them starting at the bottom, rising to the top, then repeating.
4. •
   A rope ladder from the ratline to the upper mast.
5. •
   A toy consisting of blocks of wood, held together by strings or ribbons, that appear to cascade downward as they flip over.
6. •
   (UK) A serving of short ribs.
7. •
   A pocketknife consisting of two handle segments joined by a pivot, with a blade connected by a second pivot to the end of one handle segment.
8. •
   A noncompact surface resembling a ladder made of handlebodies.

   • The infinite Loch Ness monster and Jacob's ladder (Figure 12.1.1) are diffeomorphic surfaces. — 2000
9. •
   (no longer used) A ladder or run in an item of hosiery.

   • [T]he left leg of her tights has exhibited symptoms of the defect in the warp known as a "Jacob's ladder." — 1869