duàn Left: var. of cliff 厂 (with stairs), right: 殳 (battle axe in a hand 又) At the cliff the stairs/staircase was cut with a weapon in the hand and the steps are like: sections or segments.
duàn Left: metal 钅/金, right: section/segment 段 (The staircase 三 in the cliff 厂 were cut in sections with a battle axe in a hand 又) Use iron to make a ladder or a battle axe for your hand, by: forgeing.
duàn Left: thread 纟/糸, right: section/segment 段 (The staircase 三 in the cliff 厂 were cut in sections with a battle axe by hand 又) With threads and made in segments: Satin.
in a hand 
