\Cow"an\ (kou"an), n. [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.] One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. [Scot.] Note: Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender, interloper. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. Sherry Bob Merritt [email protected]