Definition of "newel" []

• A vertical support at the center of a circular staircase. (noun)
• A post that supports a handrail at the bottom or at the landing of a staircase. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "By means of the newel-post I drew myself upright and listened."
• "I missed a frantic clutch at the newel-post, flung up my arm in time to save my face, and, most fortunately, whirled half about, and, still falling, impacted with my shoulder muscle-pad on Captain West's door."
• "Taking advantage of favouring spells, I managed to effect my exit and gain the newel-post ere the next series of rolls came."