Weird Word Wednesday - finial

Image borrowed from : http://www.lampfinials.com/

I was unscrewing the metal piece that holds a lampshade in place in order to change the lampshade.  My sister commented that I could also change out the finial if I wanted to.  She had worked in a department store in housewares and said that it can also refer to the decorative ends of curtain rods.  Apparently this may be a familiar word to people in decorating.

S-)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/

fin·i·al

noun \ˈfi-nē-əl\ 

Definition of FINIAL

1: a usually foliated ornament forming an upper extremity especially in Gothic architecture

2: a crowning ornament or detail (as a decorative knob)

Origin of FINIAL

Middle English, from final, finial final

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with FINIAL

lineal