Definition of Newel

1. Noun. The post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs; it supports the handrail.

Exact synonyms: Newel Post
Generic synonyms: Post

2. Noun. The central pillar of a circular staircase.
Generic synonyms: Column, Pillar

Definition of Newel

1. n. A novelty; a new thing.

2. n. 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. See Hollow newel, under Hollow.

Definition of Newel

1. Noun. (architecture) A central pillar around which a staircase spirals. ¹

2. Noun. (architecture) A sturdy pillar at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrail. ¹

3. Noun. (obsolete) A novelty; a new thing. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Newel

1. a staircase support [n -S]

Medical Definition of Newel

1. 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. See Hollow newel, under Hollow. Origin: 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. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Newel

newbuilds
newbuilt
newcast
newcasting
newcastle disease
newchurch
newco
newcoin
newcome
newcomer
newcomers
newcos
newcreate
newe
newed
newel (current term)
newel post
newel posts
newell
newelled
newells
newels
newer
newest
newfangle
newfangled
newfangledness
newfangleness
newfanglist
newfangly

Literary usage of Newel

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Some Account of Gothic Architecture in Spain by George Edmund Street (1914)
"The newel is 1 ft. 6 in. in diameter, and worked in stones, each of about 2 ft. 3 in. in height. Each of these has three corbels, with sockets for the steps ..."

2. Ecclesiastical and Other Sketches of Southington, Conn by Heman Rowlee Timlow (1875)
"17 & 18, 1815, Twin Infinis (male and female) of Amos newel, 3 П., 1 Day. Feb. ... 20,1804, Mary, Relict of Josiah newel, 82 Nor. в, 1814, Marcus newel, ..."

3. Building Construction and Superintendence by Frank Eugene Kidder (1915)
"newel-POSTS. The stair-posts, if made of hardwood, should be built up out of thin pieces, which are usually blocked and glued at the joints on the inside. ..."

4. Science and Industry (1900)
"That more of our mechanics do not understand staircase joinery can be attributed to the fact that the newel and platform stairways have superseded ..."

5. History of Utah: Comprising Preliminary Chapters on the Previous History of by Orson Ferguson Whitney (1904)
"newel K. Whitney was the eldest son and second child of Samuel and Susannah Kimball Whitney, and was born at Marlborough, Windham County, Vermont, ..."

6. In Old New York by Thomas Allibone Janvier (1894)
"CAST-IRON newel which none of them seems to regard as at all remote, the world went very well indeed. Certainly, there were pleasures to be had in New York ..."

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