Newel \New"el\, n. [OF. nual, F. noyau sone, of fruit, noyau
d'escaler newel, fr. L. nucalis like a nut, fr. nux, nucis,
nut. Cf Nowel the inner wall of a mold, Nucleus..]
(Arch.)
The upright post about which the steps of a circular
staircase wind; hence, in stairs having straight flights, the
principal post at the foot of a staircase, or the secondary
ones at the landings. See Hollow newel, under Hollow.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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