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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread A Word for Nov. 2 #85450 11/02/2002 2:18 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 I just found out that what I used to slide down was not a bannister (which is a family name), and not even a banister. It was a baluster, or balustrade. baluster - 1602, from It. balaustro (see balustrade). balustrade - 1644, from Fr., from It. balaustro "pillar," from balausta "flower of the wild pomegranate," from Gk. balaustion. Staircase uprights had lyre-like double curves, like the calyx tube of the pomegranate flower Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: A Word for Nov. 2 #85451 11/02/2002 2:37 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont hmm. m-w shows Main Entry: ban.is.ter Pronunciation: 'ba-n&s-t&r Function: noun Etymology: alteration of baluster Date: 1641 1 a : a handrail with its supporting posts b : HANDRAIL 2 : BALUSTER 2 - ban.is.tered /-t&rd/ adjective and baluster as: Main Entry: bal.us.ter Pronunciation: 'ba-l&-st&r Function: noun Etymology: French balustre, from Italian balaustro, from balaustra wild pomegranate flower, from Latin balaustium, from Greek balaustion; from its shape Date: 1602 1 : an object or vertical member (as the leg of a table, a round in a chair back, or the stem of a glass) having a vaselike or turned outline 2 : an upright often vase-shaped support for a rail so, it looks to me as if you did slide down the banister. sliding down a baluster would probably be very painful, unless you like that sort of thing. formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: A Word for Nov. 2 #85452 11/02/2002 3:08 PM Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,296 Piedmont Region of Virginia, U... Wordwind Carpal Tunnel Wordwind Carpal Tunnel Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 6,296 Piedmont Region of Virginia, U... And take note of the Italian word in wwh's paste: "baslustro" meaning "column." There's some more verticality for you! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: A Word for Nov. 2 #85453 11/02/2002 6:07 PM Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 11,089 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 11,089 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA sliding down a baluster would probably be very painful, unless you like that sort of thing Remember Tom Lehrer's song (Bright College Days) which contained the line "...soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life..." Saw a cartoon in an old MAD illustrating the same thought... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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