Gargoyles

Architectural elements in the form of fantastic and mythical sculptures, mostly grotesque in nature, depicting animal or human figures, often to drain water from the rooftop eaves, and to ward off evil.

Origin

Middle English: from Old French gargouille «throat», also «gargoyle» (because of the water passing through the throat and mouth of the figure); related to Greek gargarizein «to gargle» (imitating the sounds made in the throat).

Source: Oxford English Dictionaries