gable, n. [OE. gable, gabil, F. gable, fr. LL. gabalum front of a building, prob. of German or Scand. origin; cf. OHG. gibil, G. giebel gable, Icel. gafl, Goth. gibla pinnacle; perh. akin to Gr. head, and E. cephalic, or to G. gabel fork, AS. geafl, E. gaffle, L. gabalus a kind of gallows.].

The vertical triangular portion of the end of a building, from the level of the cornice or eaves to the ridge of the roof. Also, a similar end when not triangular in shape, as of a gambrel roof and the like. [1913 Webster]

Bell gable. See under Bell. -- Gable roof, a double sloping roof which forms a gable at each end. -- Gable wall. Same as Gable (b). -- Gable window, a window in a gable.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

gable, n.
1 a the triangular upper part of a wall at the end of a ridged roof. b (in full gable-end) a gable-topped wall.
2 a gable-shaped canopy over a window or door.

Derivative

gabled adj. (also in comb.).

Etymology

ME gable f. ON gafl

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ROGET THESAURUS

gable

Laterality

N laterality, side, flank, quarter, lee, hand, cheek, jowl, jole, wing, profile, temple, parietes, loin, haunch, hip, beam, gable, gable end, broadside, lee side, points of the compass, East, Orient, Levant, West, orientation, lateral, sidelong, collateral, parietal, flanking, skirting, flanked, sideling, many sided, multilateral, bilateral, trilateral, quadrilateral, Eastern, orient, oriental, Levantine, Western, occidental, Hesperian, sideways, sidelong, broadside on, on one side, abreast, alongside, beside, aside, by the side of, side by side, cheek by jowl, to windward, to leeward, laterally, right and left, on her beam ends, his cheek the may of days outworn.

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