gable

¹

[ gey-buhl ]

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.

Gable

²

[ gey-buhl ]

noun

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

Gable

¹

/ ˈɡeɪbəl /

noun

1. Gable(William) Clark19011960MUSFILMS AND TV: actor ( 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)

gable

²

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈgabled, adjective
• ˈgable-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• ga·ble·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gable¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of gable¹

C14: Old French gable , probably from Old Norse gafl ; related to Old English geafol fork, Old High German gibil gable

Example Sentences

It’s notable that two canid species living on separate continents both fish, Gable says.

From Science News For Students

“I would be shocked if this was the only fox to have learned how to fish,” Gable says.

From Science News

The trouble with Gable was that he was under contract to MGM.

From The Daily Beast

Clark Gable and Robert Taylor and Tyrone Power could make women sigh.

From The Daily Beast

One of her courtiers bet that Clark Gable as Rhett Butler would be her ideal, “a privateer, a romantic, and a fabulous cad.”

From The Daily Beast

Led by Clark Gable, the men aboard rise up and take back the ship.

From The Daily Beast

He is like you would imagine a young hipster Clark Gable would be and he's got a leer on him that won't quit.

From The Daily Beast

Tim's letter was in my pocket and the sun was still high over the gable of the mill.

From Project Gutenberg

The wall finishes in a gable and the whole west wall is a true termination of the nave which lies behind.

From Project Gutenberg

And yet you appreciate so keenly my old enamels, and your eye seeks out, in a minute, a picturesque roof or gable.

From Project Gutenberg

In a few minutes, the gable end where the chimney was built, in its turn, sank into the abyss.

From Project Gutenberg

The regular form of the buildings was rectangular, the gable sides probably being shorter than the others.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ceiling
• house