Lad's love. (Bot.) See Boy's love, under Boy.
Lad"a*num (?), n. [L. ladanum, ledanum, Gr. la`danon, lh`danon, fr.
lh^don name of a shrub, mastic; cf. Per. ldan, lden. Cf. Laudanum.] A
gum resin gathered from certain Oriental species of Cistus. It has a
pungent odor and is chiefly used in making plasters, and for
fumigation. [Written also labdanum.]
Lad"de (?), obs. imp. of Lead, to guide. Chaucer.
Lad"der (-dr), n. [OE. laddre, AS. hlder, hldder; akin to OFries.
hladder, OHG. leitara, G. leiter, and from the root of E. lean, v.
√40. See Lean, v. i., and cf. Climax.] 1. A frame usually
portable, of wood, metal, or rope, for ascent and descent, consisting
of two side pieces to which are fastened cross strips or rounds forming
steps.
Some the engines play, And some, more bold, mount ladders to the
fire.
Dryden.
2. That which resembles a ladder in form or use; hence, that by means
of which one attains to eminence.
Lowliness is young ambition's ladder.
Shak.
Fish ladder. See under Fish. -- Ladder beetle (Zoöl.), an American leaf
beetle (Chrysomela scalaris). The elytra are silvery white, striped and
spotted with green; the under wings are rose- colored. It feeds upon
the linden tree. -- Ladder handle, an iron rail at the side of a
vertical fixed ladder, to grasp with the hand in climbing. -- Ladder
shell (Zoöl.), a spiral marine shell of the genus Scalaria. See
Scalaria.