cowan
n. countablen. someone who is not part of a specific group or does not have special knowledge. It is a very old-fashioned or secret word for an outsider.
n. a person who is not a member of a specific craft or group, particularly one who lacks specialized knowledge or initiation. Historically used in stonemasonry and fraternal organizations to identify uninitiated outsiders.
The group kept their secrets safe from any cowan.
The ancient guild members were careful not to discuss their techniques when a cowan was nearby.
In the specialized vocabulary of certain fraternal orders, the term serves to distinguish the initiated brother from the cowan, who remains outside the symbolic boundaries of the lodge.
Rare and archaic; primarily found in historical texts or within specific fraternal organizations like Freemasonry.