A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1501-1552, 1650
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Pinnakil(l, -acle, n. Also: pynn-; pen(n)- and -akyll, -akle, -ackell; pynacile. [ME. and e.m.E. pinacle (c 1330), pyn- (c 1380), pinn- (14th c.), pynakell, also penakull (15th c.), OF. pinacle (1261), pinn-, late L. pinnaculum, dimin. of pinna wing, pinnacle, point.] A pinnacle, in the usual senses.
1. A small ornamental turret, usu. terminating in a pyramid or cone. 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1432.
Pinnakillis, fyellis, turnpekkis mony one, Gilt birneist torris 1513 Id. Æn. iv. ii. 77.
For al the wark … is stoppyt, baith of pynnakillis [E. pynnakle, Ruddim. penakillis] hie, And byg towris 1513 Ib. xii. Prol. 69.
Towris, turettis, kyrnellis, pynnaclys hie c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. iv. 5.
Pynacile c1552 Lynd. Mon. 4044.
The gret tempyll of Salamone … With perfyte pynnakles on hycht 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 595 (see Pin n.1 1 (1) (b)).
Pinnackell
2. Any natural peaked formation, as of a rock or stone pointed at its top. 1513 Doug. ii. vi. 20.
On a pynnakill [Sm. pinnakle, Ruddim. pennakill] of sum cragis hycht 1513 Ib. viii. iv. 110.
Thar stude A pynnakill [Ruddim. -kyll] of quhyn or flynt stone Apon the baksyde of this cavern cald 1513 Ib. xi. vii. 60.
All that cuntre … Sa full of rochis pynnakillis
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"Pinnakil n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/pinnakill>
