A structure built on or around dams or locks to facilitate the migration of fish.

(nautical) a flight of stairs or a ladder for lowering over the side of a ship for access to and from a small boat.

plural of ladder snake

Rhinechis scalaris, a European species of snake in the Colubridae family

(US) snakes and ladders

A ladder with steps or treads instead of rungs that is hinged in the middle to form an inverted V, with stays to keep the two halves at a fixed angle.

plural of fish ladder

plural of ladder school

A prestigious school that serves as a first step toward entering a higher-level private school.

(idiomatic) The hierarchy of a society.