Newel
Newel (nū"el) , noun
A novelty; a new thing. [Obsolete] — Spenser
Newel (nū"el) , noun
[Old French nual, French noyau sone, of fruit, noyau d'escaler newel, from Latin nucalis like a nut, from nux, nucis, nut. Compare Nowel the inner wall of a mold, Nucleus.]
(Architecture) 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. Also called newel post. See Hollow newel, under Hollow.