cowl

¹

[ koul ]

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.

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

[ koul ]

noun

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

cowl

/ 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

verb

1. to cover or provide with a cowl
2. to make a monk of

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowl¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowl¹

Old English cugele, from Late Latin cuculla cowl, from Latin cucullus covering, cap, hood

Example Sentences

But the point of his cowl hood droops behind his head, perhaps from the sheer weight of finding out he’s died.

From New York Times

I pulled my cowl over my head to protect it from the easterly sun and soon fell into an irritated doze.

From Literature

“To put on a Rick Owens sequined cowl or knee-high leather stocking boots is to express oneself in a language not everyone understands.”

From New York Times

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

The collars this season were a nod to the past, evoking the ruffled cowls and buttoned neck fastenings of coats reminiscent of the 19th century.

From Seattle Times

More About Cowl

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.

Where does cowl come from?

The first records of cowl come from before 1000. It comes from the Middle English coule, which derives from the Late Latin cuculla, meaning “monk’s hood.” This is a variant of the Latin cucullus, simply meaning “hood.”

Monks have known for wearing hooded robes for a long time, and the association between monks and their cowls continues today. The hood on a monk’s robe is often loose, causing it to drape around the face. When we call a hood a cowl, we’re often referring to one in this style. In fashion design, a cowl refers to a part of a shirt or dress that’s draped near the neck in a way that resembles a monk’s cowl.

In a chimney, the cowl is the hoodlike covering at the very top, above the opening, that helps with ventilation. Cowl is also used as the name of a similar object attached to the top of a locomotive’s smokestack to prevent sparks from flying everywhere (it’s also called a spark arrester).

In a car, you know what the hood is. Well, the part that supports the hood (and the windshield) is called the cowl. In aircraft, the cowl (or cowling) is a housing or removable covering for the engine.

Batman is known for wearing a “cape and cowl”—the cowl refers to his bat mask.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for cowl?

• hood

What are some words that share a root or word element with cowl? 

• cowling

What are some words that often get used in discussing cowl?

 

• cloak
• robe
• monk
• garment
• chimney
• smokestack
• covering

 

How is cowl used in real life?

A lot of people might recognize a monk’s robe, but they might not know it’s called a cowl. In most other contexts, cowl is a fairly technical word mostly used by people with specialized knowledge.

His temp has fallen, so the nurse has wrapped blankets around his head and shoulders making him now resemble a medieval monk sleeping in his cowl. #istandwithharry

— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@Harryslaststand) November 26, 2018

Sizzle reel cut together for the event. Lots in it, ending in a shocking shot of Rey in a black cowl with a RED lightsaber that flips together to make a Maul-like double saber!#D23Expo

— Empire Magazine (@empiremagazine) August 24, 2019

Let’s not pretend that Ben Affleck, Christian Bale or Michael Keaton didn’t do some silly, not-so-good movies before putting on the cape and cowl if we’re going to try and use Twilight as basis for Pattinson not being a good choice for Batman.

— Arctic Ninja Paul (@arcticninjapaul) May 17, 2019

 

 

Try using cowl!

Is cowl used correctly in the following sentence?

He cowled at me angrily.