Baluster (English spelling)

Japanese: バラスター（英語表記）baluster

A vertical beam that supports the top rail of a handrail installed on stairs, walkways, verandas, balconies, building roofs, etc. A balusters. To prevent falls, a height of 110 cm or more is considered appropriate, but there are various examples ranging from short ones for decorative purposes to long ones that are considered to be visible from a distance or from below. They are often circular in cross section, hollowed out, and have a calyx shape that is thin at the top and bulges downward, and the etymology of the word comes from the Greek word balaustion, which means "calyx of a pomegranate."

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

階段，通路，ベランダ，バルコニー，建物屋上等に設けられる手すりの笠木(手すり棒)を支える垂直の束（つか）材。手すり子。転落防止のためには手すり上部までの高さ110cm以上が適当とされるが，装飾用の短いものから遠方ないし下方より眺められることを考慮した長いものまで諸例がある。断面が円形で，刳形（くりかた）をつけて上方で細く，下方に膨らみをもつ花萼形をとることが多く，語源も〈ザクロの花萼〉を意味するギリシア語balaustionにある。

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