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I am looking for specific terminology around a half wall that acts as a divider to split a space into two separate uses. The top half of this features a series of wooden posts. It essentially resembles a balustrade except is not for stairs.

Is there a specific name for this?

Here are a few examples:

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  • $\begingroup$ i think that the wall part is called pony wall $\endgroup$
    – jsotola
    Commented May 29, 2021 at 23:06

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A non jargon terminology (i.e. non scientific architectural) would be permanent room divider or wall divider or plain divider.

Probably the proper architectural terminology is mullion is a vertical element that forms a division between units of a window or screen, or is used decoratively

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Figure: Mullion (image source: Wikipedia)

In French you mint find it as paravent, which comes from the latin paravento (which translates for the wind).

The use of permanent is to separate what you are looking for from room dividers like

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Figure: room divider source:vkf-renzel.com

Some architectural terms:

  • Cancellus (plural: Cancelli) Barriers which correspond to the modern balustrade or railing, especially the screen dividing the body of a church from the part occupied by the ministers hence chancel. The Romans employed cancelli to partition off portions of the courts of law.

  • Muntin A vertical or horizontal piece that divides a pane of glass into two or more panes or lites in a window.

  • railing (also related handrail and banister)

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Figure: Railing (source : www.houzz.in)

  • (JimClark also suggested) Partition is another word that can refer to the vertical wall in a room. (This is something that I also thought of, but -initially- I decided not to include because in my mind partition refers to the horizontal spaces that are created by the vertical column).
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    $\begingroup$ Maybe I misunderstood you question. Are you asking about the lower half of the divider? $\endgroup$
    – NMech
    Commented May 24, 2021 at 5:49
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    $\begingroup$ the balustrade indeed indicates a wall of vertical elements, however to me the difference is that railing is a fence or barrier consisting of one or more horizontal rails and vertical supports while balustrade is a row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase, or the eaves of a building (so its always the lower part). Railing seems a more generic term (to me). $\endgroup$
    – NMech
    Commented May 24, 2021 at 7:05
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    $\begingroup$ To answer your question about the vertical parts, IMHO mullions is the more appropriate term. So the whole thing would be a wall divider with mullions $\endgroup$
    – NMech
    Commented May 24, 2021 at 7:07
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    $\begingroup$ I'll add Partition. $\endgroup$
    – Jim Clark
    Commented May 24, 2021 at 11:08
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    $\begingroup$ I'll add "Dwarf Wall" although these are usually external and topped by glass $\endgroup$
    – Jonathan R Swift
    Commented May 25, 2021 at 8:04

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