Balustrade

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌbæl.əˈstɹeɪd/

Definitions

1. A decorative and protective railing system consisting of multiple vertical supports topped by a horizontal rail, typically used on stairways and balconies
2. An architectural element that features a continuous row of posts with a rail above, serving to enhance safety and aesthetic appeal in various settings
3. A series of spaced vertical posts topped by a rail, creating a protective barrier often utilized in architectural designs on staircases, balconies, and terraces

Etymology: The railing you lean on at a balcony or staircase takes its name from a flower. Ancient Greek had the word "balaustion" for the wild pomegranate blossom, and the name was applied to the bulging, rounded shape of its half-open petals. The word passed into Latin as "balaustium," then into Italian, where "balaustro" came to mean a small column of that swelling form, and "balaustrata" described a row of them joined along the top by a rail. From Italian the term moved into French as "balustrade," and English borrowed it directly from French, keeping the French spelling and pronunciation pattern. The Greek word itself may have reached Greek from a Semitic source, where the Classical Syriac "blāṣā" meant "pomegranate shoot," so the original image was of a plant rather than architecture.

Synonyms: railing, banister, guardrail