gargoyle

From Old French gargouille.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑː.ɡɔɪl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑɹ.ɡɔɪl/

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gargoyle (plural gargoyles)

1. A carved grotesque figure on a spout which conveys water away from the gutters.
   • 1906, Rafael Sabatini, The Trampling of the Lilies‎, page 110:

     From between set teeth came now a flow of oaths and imprecations as steady as the flow of water from the gargoyle overhead.

2. Any decorative carved grotesque figure on a building.
3. A fictional winged monster.
   • 2005, Mel Odom, The Secret Explodes‎, page 200:

     Almost immediately one of the gargoyles swept down from the sky and attacked him. The gargoyle's momentum drove them both over the side.

4. (slang, derogatory) An ugly woman.

• (any decorative carved grotesque figure): grotesque, hunky punk
• (ugly woman): crone, hag

• gargoylish