Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. One of the upright, usually rounded or vase-shaped supports of a balustrade.
- n. An upright support, such as a furniture leg, having a similar shape.
- n. One of the supporting posts of a handrail.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In architecture and building, a small upright member made in a great variety of forms, but typically strongly swelled outward at some point between the base and the top or capital, and commonly vase- or urn-shaped, used in series to support the rail of a railing or balustrade. The baluster, as distinguished from a small column serving the same purpose, originated in the architecture of the Renaissance. Now often called
banister . - n. In architecture, the lateral part of the volute of the Ionic capital. Also bolster.
Wiktionary
- n. A short column used in a group to support a rail, as commonly found on the side of a stairway; a banister.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. 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.
WordNet 3.0
- n. one of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing
Etymologies
- French balustre, from Italian balaustro, from balaustra, pomegranate flower (from a resemblance to the post), from Latin balaustium, from Greek balaustion.
Examples
“There was also an little piece of home in one of the display cases: An original baluster from the Louis Sullivan designed Carson Pirie Scott building in Chicago.”
“August 15th, 2007 at 1: 27 am dangerous place, if the baluster is not high enough! mx2 Says:”
“England had what was known as a baluster stem and a seal head; the assay mark was in the inner part of the bowl.”
“A staircase with a massive oak baluster winds up toward the second floor.”
“One broken baluster is placed on the pediment like a fractured leg.”
“We waited to collect money to rebuild the front porch right; solid cedar columns, tongue & groove panelled ceiling, a hint of our personality in the rail baluster pattern.”
“Project involves converting unfinished attic space to a 15-by-15-foot bedroom and bathroom with shower; installing four new windows, shed dormer and closet space under eaves; adding insulation, carpeting, rail and baluster to stairs; extending ventilation system; and finishing walls and ceilings.”
“Again, the baluster survives: the hollow—concealed behind a removable sliver of wood—is very small.”
“She had remained upstairs, holding her child by the hand, and leaning over the baluster; her mind in great perplexity and her eyes and ears on the alert.”
“Up the lawns, through the garden doors, skidding on the polished wood, into the hall where he paused, panting, his hand upon the swirling knob of the baluster.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘baluster’.
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Steroids
Nouns that end in "ster". The -er suffix (as in blaster) doesn't count.
hamster, filibuster, aster, master, mister, baluster, banister, barrister, monster, plaster, semester, bister and 56 more...
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Agatha Christie
Charming and intriguing words one finds in AG's murder mysteries. Also see Murdered, you say?
ambassadress, aperitif, baluster, cause célèbre, crime passionnel, embankment, embonpoint, galantine, mauvais sujet, mephistophelean, mountebank, purloin and 67 more...
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