baluster
UK /ˈbaləstə/ · US /ˈbæləstɚ/ noun
Forms balusters ballister balluster balustre
- noun (architecture) A short column used in a group to support a rail, as commonly found on the side of a stairway or around a balcony.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French balustre, from Italian balaustro (“pillar”), from balausta, balaustio (“wild pomegranate flower”), from Latin balaustium, from Ancient Greek βαλαύστιον (balaústion), from Semitic (compare Classical Syriac ܒܠܳܨܳܐ (blāṣā, “pomegranate shoot”)). Doublet of banister.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase, or the eaves of a building.
Etymology [F. balustre, It. balaustro, fr. L. balaustium the flower of the wild pomegranate, fr. Gr. ; -- so named from the similarity of form.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “baluster”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details