cowl
Origin of cowl
Words nearby cowl
Other definitions for cowl (2 of 2)
MORE ABOUT COWL
What doesĀ 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 doesĀ cowlĀ 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 āmonk’s hood.ā This is a variant of the Latin cucullus, simply meaning āhood.ā
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 monkās robe is often loose, causing it to drape around the face. When we call a hood a cowl, weāre often referring to one in this style. In fashion design, a cowl refers to a part of a shirt or dress thatās draped near the neck in a way that resembles a monkās 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 locomotiveās smokestack to prevent sparks from flying everywhere (itās 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 ācape and cowlāāthe cowl refers to his bat mask.
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How isĀ cowl used in real life?
A lot of people might recognize a monkās robe, but they might not know itās 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
Letās not pretend that Ben Affleck, Christian Bale or Michael Keaton didnāt do some silly, not-so-good movies before putting on the cape and cowl if weāre 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 usingĀ cowl!
Is cowl used correctly in the following sentence?
He cowled at me angrily.