COWES

cowes, a seaport and watering-place in the isle of wight, england, 12 m. s.s.e. of southampton. west cowes is separated from east cowes by the picturesque estuary of the river medina, the two towns (each of which is an urban district) lying on opposite sides of its mouth at the apex of the northern coast of the island. pop. (1901) west cowes, 8652; east cowes, 3196. the port between them is the chief on the island, and is the headquarters of the royal yacht squadron (founded in 1812); it is in regular steamship communication with southampton and portsmouth. west cowes is served by the isle of wight central railway. a steam ferry and a floating bridge across the medina, here 600 yds. broad, unite the towns. behind the harbour the houses rise picturesquely on gentle wooded slopes, and numerous villas adorn the vicinity. the towns owe their origin to two forts or castles, built on each side of the mouth of the medina by henry viii. in 1540, for the defence of the coast; the eastern one has disappeared, but the west castle remains and is used as the club-house of the yacht squadron. the marine parade of west cowes, and the public promenade called the green, are close to the castle. the industrial population is chiefly employed in the shipbuilding yards, in the manufacture of ships' fittings, and in engineering works. the harbour is under an elective body of commissioners. on the opposite side of the medina a broad carriageway leads to east cowes castle, a handsome edifice built by john nash, the favourite architect of george iv., in 1798, and immediately beyond it are the grounds surrounding osborne house (see osborne), built in 1845 after the property had been purchased by queen victoria, the church of st mildred, whippingham, lying a mile to the south. cowl (through fr. _coule_, from lat. _cucullus_ or _cuculla_, a covering; the word is found in various forms in most european languages, cf. ger. _kugel_ or _kigel_, dutch _kovel_, irish _cochal_ or _cochull_; the ultimate origin may be the root _kal_, found in lat. _clam_, secretly, and gr. [greek: kalyptein], 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).