Sentence:  And why wouldn't I just turn around, not take a chance on the bad luck of walking under a <WSD>ladder</WSD>? Because, beyond it, there was Pluckie. My little dog was leashed to a bush, lunging and barking. If the leash came loose, her lunge could send her tumbling down the mountainside. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or rounds acting as steps).