Gargoyles are carved figures that originated in medieval France, coming from the French word "gargouille" meaning throat. They were commonly carved on the outside of Gothic cathedrals and served practical purposes like directing water away from building walls. However, they also took on symbolic meanings like warding off evil spirits. One legend held that gargoyles came alive at night to protect structures from demons. Over time, gargoyles developed varied artistic designs and became fixtures of famous cathedrals across Europe.