Could someone please explain to me, a non native english speaker, why are so many different things called bootstrap?
The few examples that I can think of right now:
bootstrap cap in half bridge driver
bootstrap cap in common emitter amplifier
bootstrap as a bootloader
What do these have in common?

 

something that has to be done first. or has to do its function first.

 

Not just first, but by itself. A necessary function that is performed by the device itself to get things started.

I suppose this is more eloquent and thorough.

 

Every industry has their own interpretation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootstrapping
Ken