Chapter COUNTRY-CAPTAIN to COWLE of C by The Hobson Jobson Dictionary

COVIL, s. Tam. ko-v-il, ‘God-house,’ a Hindu temple; and also (in Malabar) a palace, [also in the form Colghum, for Kovilagam]. In colloquial use in S. India and Ceylon. In S. India it is used, especially among the French, for ‘a church’; also among the uneducated English.

[1796.—“I promise to use my utmost endeavours to procure for this Raja the colghum of Pychi for his residence.…”—Treaty, in Logan, Malabar, iii. 254.]

COWCOLLY, n.p. The name of a well-known lighthouse and landmark at the entrance of the Hoogly, in Midnapur District. Properly, according to Hunter, Geonkhali. In Thornton’s English Pilot (pt. iii. p. 7, of 1711) this place is called Cockoly.

COW-ITCH, s. The irritating hairs on the pod of the common Indian climbing herb Mucuna pruriens, D.C., N. O. Leguminosae, and the plant itself. Both pods and roots are used in native practice. The name is doubtless the Hind. kewanch (Skt. kapikachchhu), modified in Hobson-Jobson fashion, by the ‘striving after meaning.’

[1773.—“Cow-itch. This is the down found on the outside of a pod, which is about the size and thickness of a man’s little finger, and of the shape of an Italian S.”—Ives, 494.]

COWLE, s. A lease, or grant in writing; a safe-conduct, amnesty, or in fact any written engagement. The Emperor Sigismund gave Cowle to John Huss—and broke it. The word is Ar. kaul, ‘word, promise, agreement,’ and it has become technical in the Indian vernaculars, owing to the prevalence of Mahommedan Law. [1611.—“We desired to have a cowl of the Shahbunder to send some persons aland.”—Danvers, Letters, i. 133.

[1613.—“Procured a cowl for such ships as should come.”—Foster, Letters, ii. 17.]

1680.—“A Cowle granted by the Right Worshipful Streynsham Master, Esq., Agent and Governour for affairs of the Honorable East India Company in ffort St. George at Chinapatnam, by and with the advice of his Councell to all the Pegu Ruby Marchants.…”—Fort St. George Cons. Feb. 23, in Notes and Extracts, No. iii. p. 10.

1688.—“The President has by private correspondence procured a Cowle for renting the Town and customs of S. Thomé.”—Wheeler, i. 176.

1758.—“The Nawaub…having mounted some large guns on that hill…sent to the Killadar a Kowl-nama, or a summons and terms for his surrender.”—H. of Hydur Naik, 123.

1780.—“This Caoul was confirmed by another King of Gingy…of the Bramin Caste.”—Dunn, New Directory, 140.

Sir A. Wellesley often uses the word in his Indian letters. Thus:

1800.—“One tandah of brinjarries…has sent to me for cowle.…”—Wellington Desp. (ed. 1837), i. 59.

1804.—“On my arrival in the neighbourhood of the pettah I offered cowle to the inhabitants.”—Ibid. ii. 193.