gargoyle
noun /ˈɡɑːɡɔɪl/
/ˈɡɑːrɡɔɪl/
- an ugly figure of a person or an animal that is made of stone and through which water is carried away from the roof of a building, especially a churchTopics Buildingsc2
enlarge imageWord OriginMiddle English: from Old French gargouille ‘throat’, also ‘gargoyle’ (because of the water passing through the throat and mouth of the figure); related to Greek gargarizein ‘to gargle’ (imitating the sounds made in the throat).
