What is it meant by the word cowan?
There are different opinions as to where the origins of this word come from (some attributing a meaning to the word which is less than nice), so we will not discuss them. In modern Wicca, Cowan simply denotes an individual who is not Wiccan. ‘Cowan’ is a term used by Wiccans to describe non-initiates, non-Craft person or outsider. Unfortunately, with the success of the Harry Potter films, many Wiccans have began to use the word ‘Muggle’ instead. While it began as a joke, it seems to have stuck. However, such term is not an accepted Wiccan term and the word ‘Cowan’ is still used. The word is by no means derogatory – although originally was – but simply states that an individual is a non-Wiccan. The origin of the word is shrouded in mystery. However, many sources cite this as either a derivation of, or the ancestry of the English word “common.” Old English spelled the word both ‘coen’ and ‘comon.’ If this is correct, ‘Cowan,’ meaning common, is still a term meaning the lesser, “common pe
