Crossword clues for baluster
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Baluster \Bal"us*ter\, n. [F. balustre, It. balaustro, fr. L. balaustium the flower of the wild pomegranate, fr. Gr. balay`stion; -- so named from the similarity of form.] (Arch.) A small column or pilaster, used as a support to the rail of an open parapet, to guard the side of a staircase, or the front of a gallery. See Balustrade. [Corrupted into banister.]
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"support for a railing," c.1600, from French balustre, from Italian balaustro "pillar," from balausta "flower of the wild pomegranate," from Greek balaustion (perhaps of Semitic origin; compare Aramaic balatz "flower of the wild pomegranate"). Staircase uprights had lyre-like double curves, like the calyx tube of the pomegranate flower.
Wiktionary
n. (context architecture English) A short column used in a group to support a rail, as commonly found on the side of a stairway; a banister.
WordNet
n. one of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing
Wikipedia
A baluster— also called spindle or stair stick—is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, a form cut from a rectangular or square plank, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase.
Multiplied in this way, they form a balustrade. Individually, a baluster shaft may describe the turned form taken by a brass or silver candlestick, an upright furniture support, or the stem of a brass chandelier, etc.
Usage examples of "baluster".
He took his right hand off the baluster next to her left ear and began to unfasten the bodice of her gown.
Under his dark eyebrows, Junior glared at his father, kneading the wooden baluster at the bottom of the stairs.
She came to the head of the stairs, stretched out one hand to the baluster rail and then, unaccountably, she stumbled, tried to recover her balance, failed and went headlong down the stairs.
Holt leaned out over an ornamental baluster and looked down into a well like an amphitheatre, with crescents of study carrels enough to seat a thousand students at the least count.
A narrow, circular staircase studded with wrought iron balusters twisted upward to a balcony that was lined with more bookshelves.
She descended the stairs, noting the dust that had collected between the balusters, and went in search of the breakfast room.
If she took a step back she would come up hard against the wroughtiron balusters of the spiral staircase.
He raised his arms and reached around and behind her to grip the balusters on either side of her head.
He gripped the balusters as though they were the only things that kept them both fastened to the earth.
From the excellent state of preservation of the Saxon balusters, it is evident that they did not come from the exterior of the early church.
She went up the large straight staircase with wooden balusters that led to the corridor paved with dusty flags, into which several doors in a row opened, as in a monastery or an inn.
I think, indeed I am almost sure, I had heard a noise like that the ghost was said to make, as of one walking in shoes too large: I saw a lady looking down over the balusters on the second-floor.
Porpentine wedged one foot between the balusters and looked down, surveying rapidly the faces below.
If you wanted to stretch a piece of strong thread or wire across the top of the stairs about a foot from the ground, you could tie it one side to the balusters, but on the inner wall side you would need something like a nail to attach the thread to.
On the following evening, the Tuesday, someone attached a string or thread from the nail to the balusters with the result that when Miss Arundell came out of her room she caught her foot in it and went headlong down the stairs.