huabiao

From the pinyin romanization of the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation for 華表／华表 (huábiǎo).

• IPA^(key): /hwɑːˈbjaʊ/

huabiao (plural huabiaos)

1. A type of ceremonial column used in traditional Chinese architecture.
   • [1961, Yutang Lin, “Studies in Form: Temples, Pagodas and the Plastic Arts”, in Imperial Peking: Seven Centuries of China‎, New York: Crown Publishers, →OCLC, page 125:

     The most notable example of engraved dragons is on the stone columns of the Temple to Confucius at his birthplace in Chüfu. These are also found in the "cloud pillars" (single stone columns—huapiao in Chinese) outside the Tienanmen, while those at the Ming Tombs are still finer.]