ˈn(y)üwəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English nowell, from Middle French nouel, noiel stone of a fruit, newel, from Old French, stone of a fruit, from Late Latin nucalis like a nut, from Latin nuc-, nux nut + -alis -al — more at nut
1. or newel-post ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷
a. : an upright post or the upright made of the inner or smaller ends of the steps about which the steps of a circular staircase wind
b. : the principal post at the foot of a stairway with straight flight or a secondary one at a landing — see hollow newel
2. : a cylindrical pillar terminating a wing wall of a bridge or viaduct