banister

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ban=is=ter

CIDE DICTIONARY

banister, n. [A corruption of baluster.].

•  A baluster.  [1913 Webster]
•  The balustrade of a staircase. Formerly used in this sense mostly in the plural, now mostly in the singular.  [1913 Webster]

  "He struggled to ascend the pulpit stairs, holding hard on the banisters. Sir W. Scott."

OXFORD DICTIONARY

banister, n. (also bannister)
1 (in pl.) the uprights and handrail at the side of a staircase.
2 (usu. in pl.) an upright supporting a handrail.

Usage

Often confused with baluster.

Etymology

earlier barrister, corrupt. of BALUSTER

THESAURUS

banister

Samson post, baluster, balustrade, base, caryatid, colonnade, column, dado, die, doorjamb, doorpost, footstalk, gatepost, hitching post, jack, jamb, king post, milepost, mullion, newel-post, pedestal, pedicel, peduncle, pier, pilaster, pile, piling, pillar, plinth, pole, post, queen-post, rail, shaft, signpost, snubbing post, socle, staff, stalk, stanchion, stand, standard, stem, stile, subbase, surbase, trunk, upright

ROGET THESAURUS

banister

Support

N support, ground, foundation, base, basis, terra firma, bearing, fulcrum, bait, caudex crib, point d'appui, pou sto, purchase footing, hold, locus standi, landing place, landing stage, stage, platform, block, rest, resting place, groundwork, substratum, riprap, sustentation, subvention, floor, supporter, aid, prop, stand, anvil, fulciment, cue rest, jigger, monkey, stay, shore, skid, rib, truss, bandage, sleeper, stirrup, stilts, shoe, sole, heel, splint, lap, bar, rod, boom, sprit, outrigger, ratlings, staff, stick, crutch, alpenstock, baton, staddle, bourdon, cowlstaff, lathi, mahlstick, post, pillar, shaft, thill, column, pilaster, pediment, pedicle, pedestal, plinth, shank, leg, socle, zocle, buttress, jamb, mullion, abutment, baluster, banister, stanchion, balustrade, headstone, upright, door post, jamb, door jamb, frame, framework, scaffold, skeleton, beam, rafter, girder, lintel, joist, travis, trave, corner stone, summer, transom, rung, round, step, sill, angle rafter, hip rafter, cantilever, modillion, crown post, king post, vertebra, columella, backbone, keystone, axle, axletree, axis, arch, mainstay, trunnion, pivot, rowlock, peg, tiebeam, thole pin, board, ledge, shelf, hob, bracket, trevet, trivet, arbor, rack, mantel, mantle piece, mantleshelf, slab, console, counter, dresser, flange, corbel, table, trestle, shoulder, perch, horse, easel, desk, clotheshorse, hatrack, retable, teapoy, seat, throne, dais, divan, musnud, chair, bench, form, stool, sofa, settee, stall, arm chair, easy chair, elbow chair, rocking chair, couch, fauteuil, woolsack, ottoman, settle, squab, bench, aparejo, faldstool, horn, long chair, long sleeve chair, morris chair, lamba chauki, lamba kursi, saddle, pannel, pillion, side saddle, pack saddle, pommel, bed, berth, pallet, tester, crib, cot, hammock, shakedown, trucklebed, cradle, litter, stretcher, bedstead, four poster, French bed, bunk, kip, palang, bedding, bichhona, mattress, paillasse, pillow, bolster, mat, rug, cushion, footstool, hassock, tabouret, tripod, monopod, Atlas, Persides, Atlantes, Caryatides, Hercules, supporting, supported, fundamental, dorsigerous, astride on, straddle.