cowl

noun \ ˈkau̇(-ə)l \

|Updated on: 23 Jun 2018

Definition of cowl

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

See cowl defined for English-language learners

See cowl defined for kids

Recent Examples of cowl from the Web

But the majority of the front engine cowl — the entire outer barrel, the aft bulkhead and the inner barrel forward of the containment ring — were knocked off the Southwest engine, investigators said.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "Investigators find two pieces of broken fan blade inside Southwest Airlines engine," 3 May 2018
The Hot Wheels Darth Vader car, for instance, uses his face cowl as an air intake.

— gregory schmidt, New York Times, "Hot Wheels Hits the Road to Reach Its Fans," 20 May 2018
Two pieces of the broken fan blade were found inside the engine of the Southwest Airlines jet, but other pieces dislodged the cowl that fatally damaged the wing and fuselage of the Boeing 737-700, investigators said Thursday.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "Investigators find two pieces of broken fan blade inside Southwest Airlines engine," 3 May 2018
Investigators would find a cowl, a piece that surrounds the engine, in Berks County, about 70 miles north of Philadelphia.

— jeff gammage, Philly.com, "Twenty minutes of terror in the sky," 18 Apr. 2018
The dress, a fitted cowl-neck midi sheath with a belt at the waist, is also a favorite of lots of other celebrities, including Kim Kardashian West, Blake Lively, Tyra Banks, and Taraji P. Henson.

— cady lang, Time, "The Subtle Way Meghan Markle's Little Black Dress Paid Tribute to American First Lady Jackie O," 20 Apr. 2018
The fitted cowl-neck dress is a classic style that could have easily been worn by Jackie O herself.

— diana pearl, PEOPLE.com, "Meghan Markle Rocks a Perfect LBD — Inspired by Jackie O!," 19 Apr. 2018
Once the party scene faded away and Bruce got closer to death in the real world, Bruce saw a hallucination of the adult version of Batman, cape, cowl, growly voice and all.

— sydney bucksbaum, The Hollywood Reporter, "DC TV Watch: Cress Williams Breaks Down All Those 'Black Lightning' Deaths," 9 Mar. 2018
In the jury box, a young woman in a cowl-neck sweater hugged herself and blinked away tears.

— maureen o'connor, The Cut, "‘You’re Evil And You’re Getting Pleasure From This’: Mother Breaks Down at the Nanny Trial," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cowl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cowl

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

cowl

verb

Definition of cowl

cowled; cowling; cowls

transitive verb

: to cover with or as if with a cowl

Recent Examples of cowl from the Web

Fortunately, down on the stage as fans cheered and reached out, the performers kept their cool – even while retelling one of the most emotional stories of all time, complete with glitter, gold and giant cowled coats.

— randee dawn, latimes.com, "The performers of Easter's 'Jesus Christ Superstar' had their own hallelujah moments," 14 June 2018
There is the amazing gold bead dress worn by Tina Turner, the purple cowled dress worn by Grace Jones, and Elle MacPherson’s wedding dress.

— luke leitch, Vogue, "Take a First Look at London’s Azzedine Alaïa Exhibition, “The Couturier”," 9 May 2018
In 2016, an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to San Francisco turned back after part of the engine cowling fell off.

— maggie astor, New York Times, "Engine Cover Blows Off on United Airlines Flight," 13 Feb. 2018
Cowling made a 3-pointer for a 57-52 lead with 6:54 left to play.

— elliott almond, The Mercury News, "No. 10 Stanford holds off Cal to stay in first place," 16 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of cowl

1536

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Cowl

biographical name \ ˈkau̇(-ə)l \

Definition of Cowl

Jane 1883–1950 originally Grace Bailey American actress

COWL Defined for English Language Learners

cowl

noun

Definition of cowl for English Language Learners

: a loose piece of clothing with a hood that a monk wears over other clothes; also : the hood itself
: a covering for a chimney that controls the way smoke flows out