Plural of cowl; removable coverings for chimneys or engines, or hooded robes worn by monks.
From Old English 'cugele' via Late Latin 'cuculla' meaning hood or hooded garment. The term expanded from clothing to mechanical applications in the industrial age.
Cowls on airplane engines are actually engineering marvels—they smooth airflow over the engine cylinders to reduce drag, which is why modern planes have such sleek, sculpted engine housings that look nothing like the exposed engines of early aviation.
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