What is “Cowan”? (Plural: Cowen)
 
Traditionally, “cowan” is used to define the people who are out of the doctrine and not initiated and it does not have negative connotations it is simply used to denote persons who are outside the initiatic bond. It is accepted that this word is of Scottish origin and means “person who does not have competence in any subject”. Because this word can also be used to denote a  person who builds a structure without the benefit of a formal education it has been used by masons as a metaphor.