gargoyle (gär`goil), waterspout used in medieval Europe to draw rainwater from church and cathedral roofs. Gargoyles were fashioned imaginatively in the form of human grotesques, beasts, and demonic spirits. This form of sculpture reached its peak in the Gothic period and declined with the introduction of lead drainpipes in the 16th cent.
gargoyle
A waterspout projecting from the roof gutter of a building, often carved grotesquely.
gargoyle
Carved spout that drains water from a rooftop gutter. The Gothic gargoyle was usually a grotesque bird or animal sitting on the back of a cornice and projecting forward for several feet in order to throw the water far from the building. The term is often loosely applied to any grotesque or fantastic beast, such as the chimères (chimeras) that decorate the parapets of Notre-Dame de Paris.
gargoyle
1. a waterspout carved in the form of a grotesque face or creature and projecting from a roof gutter, esp of a Gothic church
2. any grotesque ornament or projection, esp on a building
gargoyle
gargoyle
| Gargoyle - A language for compiler writing. [J.V. Garwick, CACM 7(1):16-20, (Jan 1964)]. |
Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|