Banister — Ban is*ter, n. [A corruption of baluster.] 1. A baluster. [1913 Webster] 2. (sing. or pl.) The balustrade of a staircase. Formerly used in this sense mostly in the plural, now mostly in the singular. [Also spelled {bannister}.] [1913 Webster… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Banister — Banister, 1) Fluß im Staate Virginien in den Vereinigten Staaten, entspringt im Canton Pittsylvania u. ergießt sich, in südöstlicher Richtung fließend, im Canton Halifax in den Dan River; zum Theil für kleinere Fahrzeuge schiffbar; 2) (Halifax… … Pierer's Universal-Lexikon
banister — 1660s, unexplained corruption of BALUSTER (Cf. baluster). As late as 1830 condemned as vulgar, it is now accepted. Surname Bannister is from O.Fr. banastre basket, hence, basket maker … Etymology dictionary
banister — [n] railing of stairs baluster, balustrade, handrail, rail, support; concept 443 … New thesaurus
banister — (also bannister) ► NOUN 1) (also banisters) the uprights and handrail at the side of a staircase. 2) a single upright at the side of a staircase. ORIGIN from BALUSTER(Cf. ↑baluster) … English terms dictionary
banister — [ban′is tər] n. [altered < BALUSTER] 1. Now Rare a baluster 2. a handrail held up by balusters, as along a staircase 3. the handrail itself: see STAIRCASE … English World dictionary
banister — baluster, banister The OED describes banister as a corruption of the slightly earlier word baluster; both are 17c. A baluster, though once having the meaning that banisters (plural) now has, means a single curved or ornamental post supporting a… … Modern English usage
banister — ban|is|ter [ˈbænıstə US ər] n ↑banister, ↑stair, ↑step [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: baluster one of the sticks of a banister (17 21 centuries), from French balustre, from Italian balaustro; BALUSTRADE] a row of wooden posts with a bar along the top … Dictionary of contemporary English
banister — UK [ˈbænɪstə(r)] / US [ˈbænɪstər] noun [countable] Word forms banister : singular banister plural banisters a structure like a fence along the edge of stairs, designed to keep you from falling off the edge … English dictionary
banister — Baluster Bal us*ter, n. [F. balustre, It. balaustro, fr. L. balaustium the flower of the wild pomegranate, fr. Gr. balay stion; so named from the similarity of form.] (Arch.) A small column or pilaster, used as a support to the rail of an open… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
