Whilst both are architectural adornments in the shape of animals, humans, or mythical creatures, what we often refer to as gargoyles are actually grotesques. Gargoyle comes from the French "gargouille" (meaning throat) which is also the root of the English verb "to gargle". The reason behind the etymology is that unlike the more generally termed grotesques, gargoyles are specifically designed as water spouts that divert rainwater from damaging a building. The Gothic: What? blogseries will go into further detail on the delights of gothic architecture. Check back for new articles soon! #generallygothic #gothic #gothicarchitecture #architecture #architecturaldesign #gargoyle #grotesque #language #etymology #words #wordroots #wordnerd #history #academic #thegothicwhat #blogseries #blog