cowl

1 of 2

noun

ˈkau̇(-ə)l 

1

a

: a hood or long hooded cloak especially of a monk

b

: a draped neckline on a woman's garment

2

a

: a chimney covering designed to improve the draft

b

: the top portion of the front part of an automobile body forward of the two front doors to which are attached the windshield and instrument board

c

: cowling

cowl

2 of 2

verb

cowled; cowling; cowls

transitive verb

: to cover with or as if with a cowl

Examples of cowl in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Val Kilmer cuts an excellent cowl, Nicole Kidman enjoys a rare vamping role, and even Jim Carrey carries some legitimate hellzapoppin’ menace as the Riddler. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 July 2025

At the Jacquemus show during Paris Men's Fashion Week, Lori Harvey appeared in a butter yellow cowl neck gown. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 1 July 2025

Verb

The Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines (RISE) open fan engine demonstrator replaces the present turbofan and cowling of modern jet engines with an open turbofan that is larger and sits out in the open. —New Atlas, 27 Mar. 2025

Israel's Urban Aeronautics is experimenting with a pilotless medevac that uses four rotors shielded by cowling so that they won't get tangled in shrubbery. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 Nov. 2011

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cowle, from Old English cugele, from Late Latin cuculla monk's hood, from Latin cucullus hood

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1536, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cowl

• cowl-neck

Rhymes for cowl

• foul
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• howl
• jowl
• owl
• prowl
• scowl
• afoul
• wildfowl
• waterfowl

Kids Definition

cowl

noun

ˈkau̇(ə)l

1

: a monk's hood or long hooded cloak

2

: the top part of an automobile body forward of the two front doors to which are attached the windshield and instrument panel

3

: cowling

cowled

ˈkau̇ld

adjective

Biographical Definition

Cowl

biographical name

ˈkau̇(-ə)l 

Jane 1883–1950 originally Grace Bailey American actress