Found 2 items, similar to newel.
English → English (WordNet) Definition: newel 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
English → English (gcide) Definition: Newel 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]