baluster

UK: /ˈbæləstə/ US: /ˈbæləstɚ/ ,(bal′ə stər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bal•us•ter /ˈbæləstɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Architecture an upright support for a railing.

bal•us•tered, adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bal•us•ter  (bal′ə stər), n. 

1. Architecture any of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing.
2. Architecture balusters, a balustrade.
3. Furniture any of various symmetrical supports, as furniture legs or spindles, tending to swell toward the bottom or top.

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

bal′us•tered, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

baluster / ˈbæləstə/ noun

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

Etymology: 17th Century: from French balustre, from Italian balaustro pillar resembling a pomegranate flower, ultimately from Greek balaustion