BALUSTER

(Said to be from balaustrum, or ^ot-Xa-vcrrm, the flower of the wild pomegranate, to the form of which a resemblance is pretended.) In Architecture, a species of small short column, used between piers on the upper parts of buildings, under windows, in balconies, . It is quite of modern introduction, that is to say, soon after the revival of architecture. The form of the most ancient that are met with in Florence and other cities of Italy is that of a column, a puerility which has even in these days found admi ion into some of what are called Greek buildings in this metropolis. Blondel gives rules for proportioning the baluster in its use wliere the orders are employed. [s. 134]