newel

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈnjuː.əl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈnu.əl/, /ˈnju.əl/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -uːəl, -uːl

Inherited from Middle English nowel, *newel, from Old French noel, from either Early Medieval Latin nōdellus (“buckle”, diminutive of nōdus "knot") or Late Latin nucālis (“nut-like”, derivative of nux "nut"). Doublet of noil and noyau.

newel (plural newels)

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

   Synonym: spindle

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

   Synonym: newel post

   • 1943, Raymond Chandler, The High Window, Penguin, published 2005, page 238:

     We went along the hall to the end and up a flight of stairs with a carved handrail and newel post.

From new +‎ -el, modelled after novel (“new, original”).

newel (plural newels)

1. (obsolete) A novelty; a new thing.
   • 1882: Edmund Spenser (Alexander Balloch Grosart, ed) The Complete Works in Verse and Prose of Edmund Spenser

     He was so enamoured with the newel.

• newel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia