n. [ A corruption of baluster. ] 1. A baluster. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. (sing. or pl.) The balustrade of a staircase. Formerly used in this sense mostly in the plural, now mostly in the singular. [ Also spelled bannister. ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]
He struggled to ascend the pulpit stairs, holding hard on the banisters. Sir W. Scott.