Newel

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Newel \New"el\ (n[=u]"[e^]l), n. [From {New}. Cf. {Novel}.]
     A novelty; a new thing. [Obs.] --Spenser.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Newel \New"el\ (n[=u]"[e^]l), n. [OF. nual, F. noyau sone, of
     fruit, noyau d'escaler newel, fr. L. nucalis like a nut, fr.
     nux, nucis, nut. Cf. {Nowel} the inner wall of a mold,
     {Nucleus}.] (Arch.)
     The upright post about which the steps of a circular
     staircase wind; hence, in stairs having straight flights, the
     principal post at the foot of a staircase, or the secondary
     ones at the landings. Also called newel post. See {Hollow
     newel}, under {Hollow}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  newel
       n 1: the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs; it
            supports the handrail [syn: {newel post}]
       2: the central pillar of a circular staircase