梯子
はしご · hashigo · JLPT N2 · noun
ladder
🪜 梯 (ladder) + 子 (small thing suffix) = ladder-thing, said hashi-go
梯 alone is the kanji for ladder, and 子 is a common noun suffix for small objects. Same sound はし also means bridge (橋) and chopsticks (箸), so check the kanji.
子 — pictograph of a baby/child with arms out
子 began as a pictograph of a swaddled infant with a large head and outstretched arms, originally meaning 'baby' or 'child.' From there it broadened to 'son,' 'offspring,' and a respectful suffix for masters like 孔子 (Confucius). It also became one of the twelve earthly branches.