Finial

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfɪn.i.əl/

Definitions

1. A decorative element that marks the top or end of an object such as a roof, piece of furniture, or curtain rod
2. An ornamental feature placed at the highest point of a structure or item to provide a finishing touch
3. A carved or shaped embellishment used to accentuate the apex or extremity of architectural or household objects

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "finial" is that it began as a variant of "final" itself. In Late Middle English, "finial" was an adjective meaning the same as "final," and only later came to name an ornament. The sense shifted from the end of something to the ornament that crowns it: the decorative piece sitting at the very top of a pinnacle, spire, or gable. The word's root is the Latin "fīnis," meaning a border or an end, which also gave English "final" and "finish." Latin "fīnālis," meaning pertaining to the end, passed into Old French as "final," and from there into English. The Late Middle English form "finial" was a variant spelling of that same word, so the ornament was named for its position at the end of a structure. Finials appear on everything from the domes of Mughal architecture to the newel posts at the foot of staircases, where the decorative knob caps the post. The same idea of a terminal flourish works in both cases.

Synonyms: ornament, topper, decoration