Gable, the end wall of a house, especially the triangular portion above the level of the eaves, and included between the sides of the roof. In medieval cities, particularly those of the Netherlands and Germany, houses were built customarily with their gables turned toward the street. The Norman-French introduced the same custom into this country. These gables were adorned frequently with rich wood carvings and are still a source of pleasure to artists and tourists. In Edinburgh stone gables grow narrow by a series of steps, like a flight of stairs. Owing to the convenient perches they afforded for crows they are called corbie steps, corbie being Scotch for crow. From the builder's point of view gables came into use in connection with the Gothic style of architecture.