A cowl is a large, loose hood, often attached to a robe or cloak, that drapes over the head and shoulders. Think of the deep hoods that monks wear in old movies: those flowing hoods that can shadow their faces are cowls. Medieval monks wore cowls as part of their daily clothing, and the word still appears in stories about wizards, monks, or mysterious figures in flowing robes.

The word can also refer to a hood-like covering on objects. The metal covering over a car engine is sometimes called a cowl, and the chimney cover that keeps rain out while letting smoke escape is called a chimney cowl. These covers got their name because they resemble the shape of a monk's hood.

You might encounter cowl when reading fantasy novels or historical fiction, where characters pull their cowls forward to hide their faces or shield themselves from the weather. A figure in a dark cowl makes a more mysterious impression than someone in an ordinary hat. The word carries a sense of concealment and old-world atmosphere.