- the central upright pillar around which the steps of a winding staircase turn
- the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs, supporting the handrailalso newel post
Origin: ME nowelle < OFr nuel, a nut, fruit pit < LL nucalis, like a nut < L nux (gen. nucis), nut
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
- A vertical support at the center of a circular staircase.
- A post that supports a handrail at the bottom or at the landing of a staircase.
Origin: Middle English nouel, niewel, from Old French noiel, from Vulgar Latin *nōdellus, little knot, diminutive of Latin nōdulus, diminutive of nōdus, knot; see node.