Hypertext Webster Gateway: "baluster"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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}.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
baluster
n : one of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing
Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents;
see the Webster Gateway FAQ,
and also the Back-end/database links and credits.