Stanchion

In nautical terms, the stanchion is the thick and high iron that with others equal or similar is placed vertically on the gunwale, stern and tops.

[2][3][4] Stanchions are used to support life lines that keep people from falling off the side of the boat during heavy weather or simply moving around the hull.

In event management a stanchion is an upright bar or post that includes retractable belts, velvet ropes, or plastic chains, sometimes in conjunction with wall-mounted barrier devices, barricades, and printed signage[6] and often used for crowd control and engineering people flow and construction site safety.

Many different places use stanchions, including banks, building societies, and credit unions; stores, from larger department stores to trendy boutiques; hotels and conference centers; museums; restaurants and cafés; nightclubs and beach clubs; concert venues, sports arenas and stadiums; airports (including at check-in, security screening, gates, and immigration), train stations, ports, and other mass transport venues; government facilities such as the department of motor vehicles or courthouses; trade shows, art shows and comic conventions; art and opera festivals; and fairgrounds, circuses and other events.

Notably stanchions are rarely used in domestic settings or in small businesses where such a marker is not warranted, such as rural cafes or microbreweries.