gargoyle
gargoyle Lexical Profile
gargoyle Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A carved or formed grotesque figure with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building, especially typical of Gothic architecture.
"During the storm, rainwater poured steadily from the open mouths of the stone gargoyles perched high on the cathedral walls."
A grotesque carved human or animal figure attached to a building, serving a purely ornamental or symbolic purpose, often to ward off evil spirits.
"The ancient university library was adorned with fearsome gargoyles that glared down at the students traversing the quadrangle."
A person with a strikingly ugly or grotesque face.
"In the nineteenth-century novel, the cruel antagonist is described as a gargoyle whose twisted features reflect his inner malice."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict architectural terms, a gargoyle must function as a waterspout to direct rain away from a building; similar stone figures without spouts are technically called 'grotesques' or 'chimeras,' though 'gargoyle' is widely used for both.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'gargouille' (throat or waterspout), derived from Late Latin 'gurgulio' (gullet or windpipe). The word was chosen to imitate the gurgling sound of water passing through the stone throat.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.