banister

noun

1. The rail on the side of a staircase that a person's hand holds onto.

   “wooden banister”

   “polished banister”

   “lean on the banister”

   “She slid down the wooden banister like a child.”

   “He grasped the banister as he climbed the stairs.”

2. One of the vertical supports of such a handrail.

verb

1. (transitive)To construct a banister.
2. (transitive)To act as a banister.

name

1. (countable, uncountable)A surname originating as an occupation for a maker of baskets.
2. (countable, uncountable)An unincorporated community and district in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States.