释义 |
banister|ˈbænɪstə(r)| Also bannister. [corruption of baluster, q.v.; though condemned by Nicholson as ‘improper,’ by Stuart (Dict. Archit. 1830) and Gwilt as ‘vulgar,’ the term had already taken literary rank, and has now acquired general acceptance.] Usually in pl.: Slender upright posts or rails, esp. those guarding the side of a staircase, and supporting the handrail; often applied to the whole structure of uprights and handrail.
1667Primatt City & C. Build. 66 Posts, Rails, Bannisters. 1677Moxon Mech. Exerc. (1703) 165 A pair of Stairs..with Walls and Railes and Bannisters. 1765H. Walpole Otranto v. (1798) 81 The uppermost bannister of the great stairs. 1766Entick London IV. 63 A neat altar-piece, inclosed with rails and banisters. 1775Sheridan Rivals ii. i, He comes down stairs..thumping the banisters all the way. 1860W. Collins Wom. White 490 He held fast by the banisters, as he descended the stairs. b. collect. sing. = Banisters; cf. baluster 4.
1851Mayhew Lond. Labour 344 Going down your staircase, I should be all right so long as I touched the bannister. |