newel

3 definitions found

newel - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

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

  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]

newel - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

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