Hyphenation
bal·us·terPronunciation
Etymology
[ 'ba-l&-st&r ] (noun.) 1602. French balustre, from Italian balaustro 'pillar', from balausta 'wild pomegranate flower', so named because of resemblance to the swelling form of the half-open flower, from Ancient Greek βαλαύστιον (balaustion), from Semitic (compare Aramaic balatz 'wild pomegranate flower').