gable

¹ American  

[gey-buhl] / ˈgeɪ bəl /

noun

Architecture.

1. the portion of the front or side of a building enclosed by or masking the end of a pitched roof.

2. a decorative member suggesting a gable, used especially in Gothic architecture.

3. Also called gable wall.  a wall bearing a gable.

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Gable ² American  

[gey-buhl] / ˈgeɪ bəl /

noun

1. (William) Clark, 1901–60, U.S. film actor.

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gable ¹ British  

/ ˈɡeɪbəl /

noun

1. the triangular upper part of a wall between the sloping ends of a pitched roof ( gable roof )

2. a triangular ornamental feature in the form of a gable, esp as used over a door or window

3. the triangular wall on both ends of a gambrel roof

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Gable ² British  

/ ˈɡeɪbəl /

noun

1. ( William ) Clark. 1901–60, US film actor. His films include It Happened One Night (1934), San Francisco (1936), Gone with the Wind (1939), Mogambo (1953), and The Misfits (1960)

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Other Word Forms

• gable-like adjective
• gabled adjective
• gablelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of gable

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Old French (of Germanic origin); cognate with Old Norse gafl; compare Old English gafol, geafel “a fork”

Example Sentences

Inspired by cinema setpieces and centuries-old European cottages, architects designed playful homes with turrets and gables on the outside and nooks and crannies on the inside.

From Los Angeles Times

Her mother picked a piece of cement from the gable wall, blessed it and put it on her daughter's ear.

From BBC

Rather than catching fire from direct contact with flames, many homes begin to burn due to embers that can fly miles, entering through eaves or gable vents.

From BBC

The mural, which was created by artist collective Peaball, is located on a gable wall of the Pram Centre.

From BBC

Chicken barns have massive fans at each end of the gable roof.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ceiling
• house