noun
Refers to a step or a flight of stairs, often in a context like a ladder-like staircase.
急なはしご段を上るのは大変だ。
Climbing steep stairs is tough.
階段 is the general word for stairs/staircase. はしご段 specifically evokes a steep, ladder-like staircase.
Compound of はしご (ladder) and 段 (step, stair).