Buddy Kurtz, age 11, of Des Plaines, I11., for his question:

WHAT IS A GARGOYLE?

A gargoyle is a decorated water spout projecting from the upper part of a building. Ancient Greek architects often placed terra cotta or marble lion heads on roof cornices and had the rainwater empty out of the lions' mouths. Gothic architects continued the idea.

Gargoyles became important features on Gothic cathedrals, palaces and other buildings. They are weird stone figures, half human and half animal or half bird, placed on a roof edge. A channel inside the gargoyle takes the rainwater from the roof. Gargoyles usually project at least three feet from the building.

Gargoyle comes from the Latin word gurgulio, meaning "for draining purpose." The word is often incorrectly used to describe grotesque figures which are not used for drains. The correct word for a figure of this kind is chimere, or chimera.