baluster

American  

[bal-uh-ster] / ˈbæl ə stər /

noun

1. Architecture. 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.

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baluster British  

/ ˈbæləstə /

noun

1. any of a set of posts supporting a rail or coping

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adjective

1. (of a shape) swelling at the base and rising in a concave curve to a narrow stem or neck

   a baluster goblet stem

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• balustered
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of baluster

1595–1605; < French, Middle French balustre < Italian balaustro pillar shaped like the calyx of the pomegranate flower, ultimately < Latin balaustium < Greek balaústion pomegranate flower

Compare meaning

How does baluster compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• banister vs. baluster

Explanation

A baluster is a spindle or pillar in the railing of a stairway. Many balusters together make up a balustrade. The rungs in a staircase that you tap your fingers against as you descend are each called a baluster. Wooden balusters are made from wood that's carved with a lathe into a distinctive curved shape. The railing around a patio or terrace might be made of balusters, small decorative columns. Baluster comes from the Italian balaustro, "pillar," from balausta, "flower of the wild pomegranate," which has a stem with baluster-like double curves.