Etymology of PINNACLE

[ethopoeia]

A new quiz! What's the etymology of "pinnacle", and why? No Italians allowed!

[IreneY]

Non Italian speakers using an online etymology dictionary such as this one can answer then?

[ethopoeia]

Yes! btw the etymology provided by the dictionary is good, yet it still lacks the most important nuance.

One clue: I said Italians are not allowed because from Rome's most famous pinnacle the etymology becomes self-evident and, above all, huge.

[ethopoeia]

Another clue: the fence surrounding the Parc des Bastions in Geneva (Switzerland) also displays splendid golden pinnacles!

[ethopoeia]

A further clue: the Puerta de España (Gate of Spain) at the entrance of the Retiro Gardens in Madrid (Spain) are topped by huge stone pinnacles.

[perispomenon]

Your clues don't help much
Perhaps you should allow some Italians in on the quiz

The etymology just refers to a 'small spire', that's pretty much all. So what are you trying to tell us?

[perispomenon]

On those fences you mention, I can only see something that looks like pineapples (don't know for sure, I can only find tiny pictures).

Ah, or perhaps pine cones. But no reference on the net connects pinnacle to pine cones (pigna in Italian).

[perispomenon]

What's the etymology of "pinnacle", and why?

Well, I did my best; Now you can tell me, the what and the why. With references please!

[ThomasGR]

We have to live with it. We will never know the answer to the riddle.

[perispomenon]

We have to live with it. We will never know the answer to the riddle.

But I do see them everywhere now: pine cones here, pine cones there, on gates, even in my own village.

[Luculentus]

Battlements?

[Lex]

From http://www.etymonline.com/, it's from pinnaculum "gable," dim. of pinna "peak, point".