Standard Lemma guide

newel

noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈnjuː.əl/
  • US: /ˈnu.əl/
  • US: /ˈnju.əl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -uːəl
  • rhymes with -uːl

1

noun

Meaning 1

Either of two kinds of supporting post in a staircase.

A central pillar around which some types of spiral staircase are spiralled.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: architecture

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: newel post, spindle

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Either of two kinds of supporting post in a staircase.

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: architecture

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: newel post

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A novelty; a new thing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Examples

  • 1882: Edmund Spenser (Alexander Balloch Grosart, ed) The Complete Works in Verse and Prose of Edmund Spenser He was so enamoured with the newel.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: newie, new one, newun, new'un

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the central pillar of a circular staircase

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: column, pillar

5

noun

Meaning 5

the post at the top or bottom of a flight of stairs; it supports the handrail

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: newel post

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: post

History

Etymology

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.

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

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: централна колона на вита стълба (centralna kolona na vita stǎlba) — central pillar of staircase
  • Catalan: monjo — central pillar of staircase
  • Czech: sloup točitého schodiště — central pillar of staircase
  • Dutch: spindel — central pillar of staircase
  • Finnish: keskipilari — central pillar of staircase
  • French: noyau — central pillar of staircase
  • German: Spindel — central pillar of staircase
  • Ido: chef-balustro — central pillar of staircase
  • Irish: ráille staighre — central pillar of staircase
  • Irish: cuaille — central pillar of staircase
  • Irish: mol — central pillar of staircase
  • Polish: słupek balustrady schodowej — central pillar of staircase
  • Russian: коло́нна винтовой лестницы (kolónna) — central pillar of staircase
  • Spanish: alma — central pillar of staircase
  • Czech: sloupek zábradlí — pillar supporting the handrail