COWL (through Fr. coule, from

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• LAT

Lat. cucullus or cuculla, a covering; the word is found in various forms in most

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• EUROPEAN

European

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• LANGUAGES

languages, cf. Ger. Kugel or Kigel, Dutch kovel, Irish cochal or cochull ; the ultimate origin may be the

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• ROOT (late O.E. rot, adopted from Scand., cf. Norw. and Swed. rot, Dan. rod; the true O.E. word was wyrt, plant, represented in Ger. Wurz or Wurzel; the ultimate root is the same in both words, and is seen in Lat. radix)
• ROOT, ELIHU (1845– )

root kal, found in Lat. clam,  secretly, and Gr . KaXinreiv, to hide, cover up), an outer garment worn by both sexes in the middle ages; a part of the monastic dress, hence the phrase " to take the cowl," signifying entry upon the religious life . The cucullus worn by the early Egyptian anchorites was a hood covering the head and neck . Later generations lengthened the garment until it reached to the heels, and St Benedict issued a rule restricting its length to two cubits . Chapter 55 of his Institute prescribes the following dress in temperate climates: a cowl and tunic, thick in winter and thin in summer, with a scapular for working hours and shoes and stockings, all of simple material and make . In the 14th century the cowl and the frock were frequently confounded, but the council of Vienne defined the former as " a habit long and full without sleeves," and the latter as " a long habit with long and wide sleeves." While the term thus seems strictly to imply a hooded gown it is often applied to the hood alone . It is also used to describe a loose vestment worn over the frock in the winter season and during the night office . The word " cowl " is also applied to a hood-shaped covering to a chimney or ventilating shaft, to help down-draught, and to clear the up-current of foul air (see VENTILATION) .