Gurgoyle

Gurgoyle is an archaic alternative spelling of the word gargoyle. It is a monstrously carved stone water spout.  Its appearance is grotesque.  It is found in Gothic architecture, designed to throw rain water off the roofs away from building's masonry. 

True gargoyles are purely functional;  if a carved stone figure is purely decorative, and doesn't spout water, it is technically classified as grotesque. 

Thomas Hardy in his "Far From The Madding Crowd" features this spelling. The word gargoyle comes from old French word "gargouille" which means throat or gullet.  This traces back to onomatopoeic Latin root garg. 

The word is linguistic sibling to "gargle" , "gurgle" and regurgitate, means gargle or thought. 

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