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The Chinese word "云梯" is formed by combining the character "云" (yún), meaning "cloud", with "梯" (tī), meaning "ladder", to create a compound term that literally translates as "cloud ladder". This term historically denotes a tall siege ladder used in warfare, where "cloud" metaphorically suggests the ladder's extreme height, as if reaching the clouds, thus directly illustrating the object's function through the semantic combination of its components.

Word Definition - 云梯

yún tī (military) ladder used for scaling the walls of a fortified place (i.e. for escalading) in ancient times; firefighters' extension ladder; stone steps on a mountain

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