Pedestal
Pedestal turns up in 2 fields: photonics, mechanical. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Pedestal in photonics
A low, broad background of light under or around an ultrashort pulse, which carries energy outside the main peak.
A wide, weak component surrounding the main pulse in time, caused by uncompensated higher-order dispersion, spectral clipping, ASE or prepulses from the amplifier. It shows as wings on an autocorrelation trace. Pedestal energy does nothing useful and, in high-intensity experiments, can heat or ionize a target before the main pulse arrives, so contrast ratio is a key spec.
"There's a pedestal on the autocorrelation out to 2 ps, the third-order dispersion isn't compensated."
Pedestal in mechanical
A sturdy mounting base or housing that supports a rotating shaft.
A heavy, rigid base used to mount and elevate a bearing housing above a machine bed or foundation. It absorbs radial loads and vibrations from heavy rotating shafts, keeping them aligned. In heavy machinery, these are often cast iron or steel structures bolted directly to the floor or main frame.
"Check the alignment on the main drive shaft before we torque down the pedestal bolts."