newel

See also: Newel

English
WOTD – 1 January 2009
Ornamented newel (2) at the foot of a staircase.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈnjuː.əl/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈnu.əl/, /ˈnju.əl/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -uːəl

Etymology 1

From Anglo-Norman nuel, Middle French nuel, of uncertain origin.

Noun

newel (plural newels)

  1. (architecture) A central pillar around which a staircase spirals.
    Synonym: spindle
  2. (architecture) A sturdy pillar at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrail.
    Synonym: newel post
    • 1943, Raymond Chandler, The High Window, Penguin, published 2005, page 238:
      We went along the hall to the end and up a flight of stairs with a carved handrail and newel post.
Translations

Etymology 2

From new +‎ -el, modelled after novel (“new, original”).

Noun

newel (plural newels)

  1. (obsolete) A novelty; a new thing.
    • 1882: Edmund Spenser (Alexander Balloch Grosart, ed) The Complete Works in Verse and Prose of Edmund Spenser
      He was so enamoured with the newel.

Further reading
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