[a. Fr. aiguille (cogn. w. It. aguglia, Pr. Pg. agulha, Sp. aguja):—late L. *acūcula for acicula, dim. of acus needle. For the sense cf. the similar Eng. use of needle.] A slender, sharply pointed peak (of rock); esp. the numerous peaks of the Alps so named.
1816. Byron, in Moore’s Life (1866), 311. Mont Blanc and the Aiguille of Argentières both very distinct.
1835. Penny Cycl., IV. 501. s.v. Blanc, Mt., The upper surface is extremely irregular, and a considerable number of rocks rise from it, which, from their resemblance to pyramids or steeples, are called aiguilles, or needles.
1862. Dana, Man. Geol., 680. Granite is well known to run up into lofty needles (or aiguilles).
