noun
gargoyle
GAH-goyl
Gargoyle (noun) means a carved stone figure, often grotesque, that projects from a building and channels rainwater away from the walls. Example: “Gargoyles peered down from the cathedral roof.”
noun
1
A carved stone figure, often grotesque, that projects from a building and channels rainwater away from the walls.
"From between set teeth came now a flow of oaths and imprecations as steady as the flow of water from the gargoyle overhead."
— Rafael Sabatini, The Trampling of the Lilies (1906)
"The long-closed G.W.R. station alongside has a decidedly derelict-looking frontage, with eight gargoyles or figureheads still clinging to the portico."
— R. A. H. Weight, A Railway Recorder in Wessex (1952)
"Gargoyles peered down from the cathedral roof."
"Each gargoyle on the gutter was carved with a different monstrous face."
How to use gargoyle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA stone carving, usually of a strange or monstrous creature, that sticks out from a building and drains rainwater.
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Word forms
- Plural
- gargoyles
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Can you complete this real example?
_____ peered down from the cathedral roof.
Etymology
From Old French gargouille, related to "gargle" — both trace back to words for "throat" or "gullet," describing the water passing through the carved figure's mouth.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gargoyle
See all rhymes for gargoyle →Frequently asked questions
What does “gargoyle” mean?
The word “gargoyle” means a carved stone figure, often grotesque, that projects from a building and channels rainwater away from the walls. In plain terms, a stone carving, usually of a strange or monstrous creature, that sticks out from a building and drains rainwater.
How do you pronounce “gargoyle”?
“Gargoyle” is pronounced GAH-goyl (/ˈɡɑɹɡɔɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “gargoyle” in a sentence?
Here is “gargoyle” used in a sentence: “Gargoyles peered down from the cathedral roof.”
What part of speech is “gargoyle”?
“Gargoyle” is a noun.
Where does the word “gargoyle” come from?
The word “gargoyle” comes from Old French. From Old French gargouille, related to "gargle" — both trace back to words for "throat" or "gullet," describing the water passing through the carved figure's mouth.
