Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

newel

/ˈnu.əl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.88 in modern English

Syllables: newel
IPA: /ˈnu.əl/

8

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Either of two kinds of supporting post in a staircase.

noun

Either of two kinds of supporting post in a staircase.

noun

A novelty; a new thing.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"We went along the hall to the end and up a flight of stairs with a carved handrail and newel post."
"1882: Edmund Spenser (Alexander Balloch Grosart, ed) The Complete Works in Verse and Prose of Edmund Spenser He was so enamoured with the newel."

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English nowel, *newel, from Old French noel, from either Early Medieval Latin nōdellus (“buckle”, diminutive of nōdus "knot") or Late Latin nucālis (“nut-like”, derivative of nux "nut"). Doublet of noil and noyau.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: nowel, noel, nōdellus, nucālis
Suffix: new

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈnu.əl/
British English: /ˈnjuː.əl/

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

newels (plural)

Derived Forms

neweled newelled

Frequently Paired Words

baluster

Synonyms

newel post spindle newie new one newun new'un

Rhymes With

you'll fuel dual cruel duel refuel ewell gruel uel crewel tewel school

Questions

How do you pronounce newel?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈnu.əl/.
What does newel mean?: Either of two kinds of supporting post in a staircase.
Where does newel come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce newel

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “newel”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈnu.əl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “newel”.
Repeat and practice — Say “newel” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.