A short, decorative pillar or post that is one of a series supporting a railing or handrail, typically on staircases and balconies.
From Italian 'balaustra' and Latin 'balustium,' originally referring to a pomegranate flower that the shape resembled. The term entered English in the 1600s when Italian Renaissance architecture became fashionable in Europe.
The baluster's design was inspired by the natural curve of a pomegranate flower—architects noticed that the flower's shape was visually pleasing and structurally sound, so they copied it in stone and wood, proving that nature has been a design guide for centuries!
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