What are bootstrappers with respect to computer languages?

Answer 1

This link seems to answer your question better than I could.

Answer 2

When a computer is first turned on, it has nothing. Every time it starts, it needs to tell itself a string of basic rules, "This key is an F," "2X2 is 4," things like that. Some funny 1930's geeks said it was a lot like pulling yourself up by your boot straps, so commands that help a computer get from an inanimate object to something that can surf the internet are bootstrappers, boot strapping codes, and the whole process is "booting up."