"Popularly, banister or ballaster, the name given to small shafts or pillars set in a line at short equal distances, and supporting a cornice or coping. These miniature pillars have generally either a pear-shaped swelling at the lower end, or consist of two pear-shaped pieces, places above each other, a ring of moulding being set between them." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Baluster

"Popularly, banister or ballaster, the name given to small shafts or pillars set in a line at short…