A gargoyle is a stone creature on the edge of an old roof — often a church — with a mouth that rain runs through. The water shoots out and falls away from the wall, so the stone below stays drier. The figure is usually strange or ugly on purpose: a grinning face, a dragon, a hunched beast.

A gargoyle is a stone creature on the edge of an old roofgargoyle是蹲在老建築屋簷邊緣的石雕怪獸， — often a church ———通常是教堂—— with a mouth that rain runs through嘴巴會讓雨水從裡面流出去。 The water shoots out and falls away from the wall雨水會噴射出去，落在離牆壁較遠的地方， so the stone below stays drier讓下方的石材保持比較乾燥。 The figure is usually strange or ugly on purpose這個雕像通常故意做得詭異或醜陋： a grinning face, a dragon, a hunched beast咧嘴笑的臉、一條龍，或是一隻縮著身子的怪獸。

Though actually, a lot of people call any ugly stone monster on a building a gargoyle. Strictly, if rain does not pass through it, it is only a decoration (architecture teachers say grotesque). Everyday English is looser; even guidebooks mix the two.

Though actually不過其實， a lot of people call any ugly stone monster on a building a gargoyle很多人會把建築物上任何醜陋的石雕怪獸都叫做gargoyle。 Strictly, if rain does not pass through it嚴格來說，如果雨水不會從它身上流過去， it is only a decoration (architecture teachers say grotesque)那就只是裝飾品（建築老師會說那叫grotesque）。 Everyday English is looser日常英文的用法比較鬆散， even guidebooks mix the two連導覽手冊也常把兩者混著用。

You meet the word in travel writing, history, and Halloween jokes. It is not a word for a plastic toy unless you are being playful.

You meet the word in travel writing, history, and Halloween jokes你會在旅遊寫作、歷史，還有萬聖節的笑話裡遇到這個詞。 It is not a word for a plastic toy unless you are being playful這個詞不會用來叫塑膠玩具，除非你是在開玩笑。