As seen in old glyphs in which this element appears, the original components were apparently「two downward thrusting penises」side-by-side and indicating that the two are of EQUAL SIZE, EQUAL FORCE, EQUAL POWER, EQUAL LENGTH, EQUAL GIRTH, as MEASUREMENTS, noting that the only manner this can actually be achieved every time is for the two thrusting 'penes' (幵 'two fucks') to be joined at the hip as it were, a description of a two-headed, two-pronged dildo with parallel heads for both orifices (see 兩) simultaneously (and not positioned diametrically opposite one another for two-party use…see Chinese erotic art for myriad examples of both varieties, among others). Also indicating that「many downward thrusts」will OPEN UP what is being thrust upon, such as dirt when digging with a spade, or OPEN A HOLE (…yes, orifices). Meanings extend both literally and figuratively.
　Not coincidentally, resembles the torii gates that mark the entrances to Shintō shrines in Japan…torii means 'birds are there' (鳥居) as a translation that some people explain refers to the pigeons roosting atop the gate at times, and that may indeed be so, nonetheless 'bird' and 'chick' are also euphemisms from China (and in the West, for that matter) referring to sex slaves, or sexual services providers who initially were available for short-term rentals at such shrines in China, formerly operated by shamans, the first religion of humanity with enshrined divas as goddess deities.
　PEDESTAL literally means「foot stall」that is to say, a foot with a small compartment, used by domesticated animals such as cattle, swine, or other herd assets…which in dynastic China during the age of dis-integrating feet can be described by the elements「erection with array of reciprocating vertical motions」(and so on with other possible combinations) in harem concubines and service providers, of a「rod within small compartment of a foot」(pedestals, the feet stalls):「Qing Dynasty sex manuals listed 48 different ways of playing with women's [no-longer-integrated] bound feet」(after removing the binding cloths, of course)
　　[　https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding 2012-12-17　]　

Modern definitions (that generally disregard history) …excluding politically incorrect concepts and other meanings deemed offensive today; may list only pigeonholed definitions, euphemisms, or meaningless mnemonics)
Chinese: to open; to start; to turn on; to boil; to write out (a prescription, check, invoice etc); to operate (vehicle); abbr. for 開爾文|开尔文 degrees Kelvin
Unihan extended: open; initiate, begin, start
EDRDG: open; initiate; begin; start