A large stone placed at the end of a parapet or gable to protect the edge of a roof or wall.
Compound of 'barge' (edge or projection, from Old French 'barge' meaning a projecting part of a building) + 'stone.' In architecture, 'barge' refers specifically to the sloping edge of a gable, with 'bargestone' being a protective capstone.
These stones served a practical purpose in medieval architecture—they protected vulnerable roof edges from weather and crumbling, but they also became decorative architectural features, often elaborately carved to show a building's importance and the owner's wealth.
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