banister Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a railing at the side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
    balusters; bannister; handrail; balustrade.

WordNet

Ban"is*ter noun
Etymology
Formerly also banjore and banjer; corrupted from bandore, through negro slave pronunciation.
Definitions
  1. A stringed musical instrument having a head and neck like the guitar, and its body like a tambourine. It has five strings, and is played with the fingers and hands.

Webster 1913