late 14c., from M.E. nowel, from O.Fr. noel "the Christmas season," variant of nael, from L. natalis (dies) "birth (day)," in Eccles. L. in reference to the birthday of Christ, from natus, pp. of nasci "be born" (Old L. gnasci; see genus).
mid-14c., "pillar from which steps of a winding staircase radiate," from O.Fr. noel, novel "knob, newel, kernel, stone," from V.L. *nodellus "little knot," dim. of L. nodulus, dim. of nodus "knot." Or the O.Fr. word may be from Gallo-Romance *nucale, from L. nux "nut." The meaning "post at the top or bottom of a staircase" is from 1833.
