cowan

American  

[kau-uhn] / ˈkaʊ ən /

noun

• cowans
  plural

1. a person who is not a member of the order of Freemasons but claims to be or seeks to discover or expose its secrets.

2. Scot.. a builder of dry stone walls, especially one who is not trained in the trade of masonry.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cowans
  plural

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cowans

Our ancient brethren held their Lodges on high hills or in low vales, the better to observe the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, ascending or descending.

From Masonic Monitor of the Degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason together with the Ceremony of Installation, Laying Corner Stones, Dedications, Masonic Burial, Etc. by George Thornburgh

Unfortunately, we still have cowans in this sense—men who try to be Masons without using the cement of brotherly love.

From The Builders A Story and Study of Masonry by Joseph Fort Newton

Brother Truth: "Mighty Father, it is midnight among the profane, or cowans, but the sun is in its meridian in this Lodge."

From The Mysteries of Free Masonry Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's Lodge by William Morgan

A. His station is at the outer avenue of the Chapter, his duty to guard against the approach of cowans and eavesdroppers, and suffer none to pass or repass but such as are duly qualified.

From The Mysteries of Free Masonry Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's Lodge by William Morgan

He answers, "To keep off all cowans and eave-droppers, see that none pass or repass without permission from the Master."

From The Mysteries of Free Masonry Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's Lodge by William Morgan

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