baluster

bal·us·ter

B0050400 (băl′ə-stər)n.1. a. One of the upright, usually rounded or vase-shaped supports of a balustrade.b. An upright support, such as a furniture leg, having a similar shape.2. One of the supporting posts of a handrail.

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[French balustre, from Italian balaustro, from balaustra, pomegranate flower (from a resemblance to the post), from Latin balaustium, from Greek balaustion, probably from a Semitic source akin to Syriac blaṣ, to bud, flower, and perhaps to Tigrinya bäläṣä, to be superior.]

baluster

(ˈbæləstə) n (Architecture) any of a set of posts supporting a rail or copingadj (Antiques) (of a shape) swelling at the base and rising in a concave curve to a narrow stem or neck: a baluster goblet stem. [C17: from French balustre, from Italian balaustro pillar resembling a pomegranate flower, ultimately from Greek balaustion]

bal•us•ter

(ˈbæl ə stər)

n. 1. any of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing. 2. balusters, a balustrade. 3. any of various symmetrical supports, as furniture legs or spindles, tending to swell toward the bottom or top. [1595–1605; < French, Middle French balustre < Italian balaustro pillar shaped like the calyx of the pomegranate flower « Latin balaustium pomegranate flower < GK balaústion]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

baluster - one of a number of closely spaced supports for a railingbalusters, balustrade, banister, handrail, bannister - a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from fallingsupport - any device that bears the weight of another thing; "there was no place to attach supports for a shelf"

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