GURGOYLE Meaning and
Definition
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Gurgoyle is a term used to describe an ornamental or grotesque sculpture typically found in architecture. These sculptures are most commonly seen on the facades of buildings, particularly on ancient cathedrals, churches, and castles. Gurgoyle sculptures serve both decorative and functional purposes.
Visually, a gurgoyle is characterized by its intricate and often bizarre design, depicting a creature with a combination of human, animal, and mythical features. These sculptures are typically crafted from stone, though other materials such as metal and wood may also be used. They are usually positioned along the edges or corners of roofs, downspouts, or parapets, adding a unique aesthetic quality to the building's exterior.
Functionally, gurgoyle sculptures are designed to serve as water spouts or rain gutters, effectively channeling rainwater away from the building's walls, thereby preventing erosion and water damage. Gurgoyle sculptures often have elongated mouths or spouts, allowing the collected rainwater to pour out in a controlled manner, away from the building's foundations.
The term "gurgoyle" originates from the Old French word "gargouille," which means throat or gullet. It is also associated with the Latin word "gurgulio," meaning gullet or drainpipe. The intricate and often grotesque designs of gurgoyle sculptures have captured the curiosity and imagination of many throughout history, making them an iconic element of medieval and Gothic architecture. Today, gurgoyle sculptures continue to be appreciated and admired for their artistic and functional significance.
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• One of the antic figures into which the spouts carrying off rain-water from a building were worked in Gothic architecture.
• An ornamental waterspout in stone, always more or less fantastic.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for GURGOYLE
- gargoyl
- gargoyle
- furgoyle
- vurgoyle
- hurgoyle
- yurgoyle
- turgoyle
- gyrgoyle
- ghrgoyle
- gjrgoyle
- g8rgoyle
- g7rgoyle
- guegoyle
- gudgoyle
- gufgoyle
- gutgoyle
- gu5goyle
- gu4goyle
- gurfoyle
- gurvoyle
Etymology of GURGOYLE
The word "gargoyle" traces its origins back to the Old French word "gargouille", which itself comes from the Late Latin word "gurgulio". "Gurgulio" refers to the throat or gullet, as it was derived from the Latin verb "gurgulare", meaning "to gargle" or "to gurgle". In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved or sculpted decorative element typically featured on the exterior of buildings, often as a water spout, with a functional purpose of directing rainwater away from the walls. The term "gargoyle" also occasionally refers to grotesque sculptures or figures used for ornamental purposes. The word first entered the English language in the 13th century, and its origins in Latin and French are based on the distinctive sound of water gushing through gargoyles.
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