cowl

¹ American  

[koul] / kaʊl /

noun

1. a hooded garment worn by monks.

2. the hood of this garment.

3. part of a garment that is draped to resemble a cowl or hood.

4. the forward part of the body of a motor vehicle supporting the rear of the hood and the windshield and housing the pedals and instrument panel.

5. a cowling.

6. a hoodlike covering for increasing the draft of a chimney or ventilator.

7. a wire netting fastened to the top of the smokestack of a locomotive to prevent large sparks from being discharged; a spark arrester.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover with or as if with a cowl.

2. to put a monk's cowl on.

3. to make a monk of.

Cowl ² American  

[koul] / kaʊl /

noun

1. Jane, 1884–1950, U.S. actress and playwright.

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cowl British  

/ kaʊl /

noun

1. a hood, esp a loose one

2. the hooded habit of a monk

3. a cover fitted to a chimney to increase ventilation and prevent draughts

4. the part of a car body that supports the windscreen and the bonnet

5. aeronautics another word for cowling

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verb

1. to cover or provide with a cowl

2. to make a monk of

Usage

What does cowl mean? A cowl is a hood, especially a loose one. The hooded robe worn by some monks is called a cowl. Cowl is also used to refer to several objects that function as hoods, such as parts of some vehicles and the coverings at the top of chimneys. It can also be used as a verb meaning to cover something. More specifically, it can mean to make someone a monk. Example: The monk donned his cowl and left his bunk for morning prayer.

Etymology

Origin of cowl

before 1000; Middle English cou ( e ) le, Old English cugele, cūle < Late Latin cuculla monk's hood, variant of Latin cucullus hood

Explanation

A cowl is a very loose neck or hood on a piece of clothing. Christian monks often wear a belted robe-like garment with a cowl. Use the word cowl for the hood on a long, wide-sleeved garment, or to refer to the garment itself. The front of a cowl tends to be closed, rather than open like a cloak or a cape, and this was the reason cowls became the formal wear for monks during the Middle Ages — the closed cowl was warmer. Catholic and Anglican monks still wear cowls today. The Latin root of cowl is cucullus, or "hood."

Example Sentences

Finding a suit and cowl made just for him, Damian transforms into Little Batman in order to safeguard Wayne Manor and Gotham City from villains, including a rather mischievous Joker.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2025

Another Jan. 16 report describes “a bubble-shaped defect and cracks on the outer side of the #1 engine inlet cowl on a Southwest MAX.”

From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2024

But Finger refined it; he created Batman’s iconic bat-eared cowl, his bat logo and scalloped cape.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2023

“We kind of looked at it as having a superhero donning his cape and cowl, but what’s behind that?”

From New York Times • Aug. 4, 2023

I could catch a glimpse of a deep cowl like some priests wear, but underneath the shadows were so deep it was like looking down a well at midnight.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss