Illustration of gargoyle
- gargoyle 1a
gargoyle
noun
gar·goyle
ˈgär-ˌgȯi(-ə)l
1
a
: a spout in the form of a grotesque human or animal figure projecting from a roof gutter to throw rainwater clear of a building
b
: a grotesquely carved figure
2
: a person with an ugly face
Did you know?
In the 12th century, St. Bernard of Clairvaux reportedly complained about the new sculptures in the cloisters where he lived. "Surely," he is quoted as saying, "if we do not blush for such absurdities we should at least regret what we have spent on them." St. Bernard was apparently provoked by the grotesque figures designed to drain rainwater from buildings. By the 13th century, those figures were being called gargoyles, a name that came to Middle English from the Old French word gargoule. The stone beasts likely earned that name because of the water that gargled out of their throats and mouths; the word gargoule is imitative in origin.
Cite this Entry
“Gargoyle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gargoyle. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.
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