ladder
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To close in on a target with successive salvos, increasing or decreasing the shot range as necessary.
Register: slang
Examples
For eighteen minutes Revenge pounded the dockyard area at an average range of 15,700 yards, spreading for line and laddering for range to a prearranged plan to cover the whole target area.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “ladder” mean?
To close in on a target with successive salvos, increasing or decreasing the shot range as necessary.
Is “ladder” formal or informal?
ladder is generally slang.