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n. 1. A vertical support at the center of a circular staircase. 2. A post that supports a handrail at the bottom or at the landing of a staircase. [Middle English nouel, niewel, from Old French noiel, from Vulgar Latin *nōdellus, little knot, diminutive of Latin nōdulus, diminutive of nōdus, knot; see NODE.]  (click for a larger image) neweltop:of a circular staircase bottom:at the end of a banister  (click for a larger image) newel |
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