Forms: 7– baluster; also 7 ballester, 7–8 balluster, -aster, -ister, balister. See also BANISTER. [a. F. balustre masc. ‘baluster,’ 16th c. ad. It. balaustro in same sense; so named from It. balausta, balaustra (F. balauste, balustre fem., in Cotgrave, 1611), in Florio balausto ‘the blossom of the wild pomegranate’ (L. balaustium, a. Gr. βαλαύστιον in same sense), on account of the resemblance of a baluster to the double-curving calyx-tube of this flower. In English, corrupted already in 17th c. to barrester, -ister, bannister, BANISTER, which last is now, in sense 3, the prevailing form.]
1. A short pillar or column, of circular section, and curving outline (properly, double-curved), slender above and swelling below into an elliptical or pear-shaped bulge; usually applied in a series called a balustrade.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, 107 a. Planched ouer and rayled about with ballisters.
1611. Cotgr., Balustres, Ballisters; little, round, and short pillars, ranked on the outside of Cloisters, Terraces, Galleries, etc.
1697. C’tess D’Aunoy’s Trav. Spain (1706), 125. Her Bed-Head was adorned with four Rows of little Copper Ballisters.
1716–8. Lady Montague, Lett., 37, I. 153. Marble galleries … with marble balusters.
1879. Sir G. Scott, Lect. Archit., II. 37. What are called baluster columns, or short pillars, turned in a lathe, not unlike Elizabethan balusters, bulging in the middle.
b. A similar pillar used in a window.
1844. F. Paley, Ch. Restorers, 5. Belfry windows, each of two lights, separated by a baluster shaft.
1861. Parker, Goth. Archit. (1874), 319. Baluster, in windows, a small pillar swelling in the middle.
2. A slender upright post or pillar of any shape supporting a rail; in pl. a railing or balustrade.
1663. Flagellum or O. Cromwell (1672), 189. Environed with Rails and Ballasters four square covered with Velvet.
1682. Wheler, Journ. Greece, II. 204. An Area … with Balusters or Rails about it.
1725. trans. Dupin’s Eccl. Hist. 17th C., I. v. 101. The Sanctuary was a Place in the Choir … separated by Balusters.
1787. Beckford, Italy (1834), II. 326. Enriched with balusters of rich bronze.
3. (Usually in pl.) The upright posts or rails that support the handrail, and guard the side, of a staircase; often applied to the whole structure of uprights and handrail. Now more usually BANISTER(S, q.v.
1753. World, 22 Nov. The Bedlamites leap’d over the Balisters of the Staircase.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 200. Balusters are vertical pieces fixed on the steps for supporting the hand-rail.
1853. Miss E. S. Sheppard, Ch. Auchester, I. 42. A staircase … of a rich brown colour … so also were the balusters.
4. collect. sing. A balustrade, or protective railing. arch.
1644. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 67. A border of freestone … with a rail and baluster of pure white marble.
1670. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. 29. A continual baluster, or row of rayles.
a. 1720. Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.), Wks. (1753), II. 221. These stairs … are so very easy, there is no need of leaning on the iron balluster.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, I. 116. The choir is separated from the body of the church by a ballister.
5. Class. Arch. ‘The lateral part of the volute of an Ionic capital.’ Gwilt.
