n. 1 a the hood of a monk's habit. b a loose hood. c a monk's hooded habit. 2 the hood-shaped covering of a chimney or ventilating shaft. 3 the removable cover of a vehicle or aircraft engine. cowled adj. (in sense 1).
[ OE cugele, cule f. eccl.L cuculla f. L cucullus hood of a cloak ]