bannister
11
3.4
- noun
- /ˈbænɪstər/
- UK
:
barandilla
- As he approached the staircase, he grabbed the bannister for support to avoid slipping.
- stairs and bannisters
- leaned on the bannister
- hand on the bannisters
Examples
-
Maggie clutched the bannister, and her face was beyond exhaustion.
Fiction book (1992) -
On the stairs, he raps the bannisters lightly with his knuckles.
Fiction book (2001) -
You came sliding down the bannister in blue jeans.
-
"James?" Helen started down the stairs, her hand white on the bannister.
Fiction book (1990) -
How many times have you put up a bannister rail on a stairwell?
Blog text (13) -
Eleanor's hand was on the bannister, thinking, Why can't she take care of me?
Fiction book (2000) -
Climbing the stairs with the hand-carved bannister, she found herself holding on tight to something hard in the pit of her stomach.
Fiction book (2001) -
Jimmy sighed, stood up, swung around our wooden bannister, and raced upstairs.
Fiction book (1996) -
Ford leans on the bannister, oblivious to the Gila monster beside him.
Fiction book (1995) -
Orange electrical extension wire twirled around the bannister up the stairs, thick strands of it braided together.
Fiction book (1994)
Synonyms
17
2.7
A rail at the side of stairs or a balcony that people hold to stop them from falling
17
3.4
A strong railing at the edge of places like roads and bridges that stops people or vehicles from falling
14
1.6
A row of bars and posts along an edge, like on stairs or balconies, to stop people from falling
11
1.8
A bar fixed beside stairs or a balcony that you hold for support
3
8.1
A railing with short vertical posts along a staircase or balcony to stop people falling
1
2.9
A rail you hold for support on stairs or ramps
How Protective
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bannister comes from an older word baluster, which meant a 'small pillar' or post that holds up a rail. Think of a row of tiny columns holding a handrail—so a bannister is the rail and its posts you hold to keep from falling.