During the Middle Ages, stonemasons would carve grotesquely decorative rain spouts along the ends of the roofs, in the form of animals or faces. What are these things called?

While they may look like purely monstrous decorations, these stone figures served a vital architectural purpose as elaborate rain spouts. Their name perfectly reflects this job. The term originates from the Old French word *gargouille*, meaning "throat" or "gullet," which directly evokes the gurgling sound of rainwater passing through the stone channel and spewing from its open mouth.

Their primary role was a practical one. By jutting out from the roofline, they directed rainwater far away from the building’s foundation (Review) and walls, preventing water from eroding the mortar and stone over time. Beyond this function, gargoyles were also believed to serve a spiritual purpose. In an age of widespread superstition, their frightening and grotesque appearances were thought to ward off evil spirits, essentially scaring them away from the sacred space within the church.

Interestingly, not every monstrous carving on a medieval building is technically a gargoyle. For a sculpture to be a true gargoyle, it must contain a pipe and carry water. A similar decorative carving that does not function as a rain spout is correctly known as a "grotesque." While the term "gargoyle" is now commonly used for both, the distinction highlights the original, practical purpose of these fascinating architectural features.