Banister

A handrail on a staircase, and the upright supporting structure, designed to keep people from falling off of the stairs.

There was a young man from Eau Claire,
who was screwing his girl on the stair.
The banister broke
So he doubled his stroke
And finished her off in mid-air.

Ban"is*ter (?), n. [Formerly also banjore and banjer; corrupted from bandore, through negro slave pronunciation.]

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.