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Architecture. any of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing.
balusters, a balustrade.
any of various symmetrical supports, as furniture legs or spindles, tending to swell toward the bottom or top.
Historical Examples

Presently their faces showed over the baluster rail, and another step brought them upon the roof.
The Free Lances Mayne Reid

Fred took his place, and shook the baluster, then the other—its fellow—but there was no result.
Crown and Sceptre George Manville Fenn

“Now let us sit here a while and listen,” said Kenelm, seating himself on the baluster of the bridge.
Kenelm Chillingly, Complete Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Clutching with either hand the baluster I leaned over, listening.
Memoirs of a Midget Walter de la Mare

After a little she went up-stairs holding tight to the baluster with one hand and to Mrs. Herrick with the other.
The Coast of Chance Esther Chamberlain

Dorothy looked over the baluster at the humming top, but said nothing.
Dorothy Dainty at the Mountains Amy Brooks

Arline whisked out of the room and peered anxiously over the baluster.
Grace Harlowe’s Fourth Year at Overton College Jessie Graham Flower

Sometimes the mid-wall shaft is a baluster, turned in a lathe.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 4 Various

I felt my way down by the baluster, which required my right hand, and threw my revolver to my left.
The Window at the White Cat Mary Roberts Rinehart

This stairway had no baluster, and was not safe in the dark for strangers to the house.
The Entailed Hat George Alfred Townsend

noun
any of a set of posts supporting a rail or coping
adjective
(of a shape) swelling at the base and rising in a concave curve to a narrow stem or neck: a baluster goblet stem
n.

“support for a railing,” c.1600, from French balustre, from Italian balaustro “pillar,” from balausta “flower of the wild pomegranate,” from Greek balaustion (perhaps of Semitic origin, cf. Aramaic balatz “flower of the wild pomegranate”). Staircase uprights had lyre-like double curves, like the calyx tube of the pomegranate flower.