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Original · left

Bootstrapping (boot strap)

First in use: the 1800s
Duplicate · right

Bootstrap (front-end framework)

First in use: c. 2011

Bootstrap / Bootstrapping (boot strap) / Bootstrap (front-end framework)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Pulling yourself up vs. Twitter's CSS.

Which meaning of Bootstrap is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Bootstrapping (boot strap) came first (the 1800s). Bootstrap (front-end framework) arrived in 2011. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Bootstrapping (boot strap)Bootstrap (front-end framework)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1800s

Bootstrapping (boot strap)

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Duplicate · c. 2011

Bootstrap (front-end framework)

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More duplicated terms

Business & startups