cowanis

cowanis pl

1. (obsolete) plural of cowan (a worker in unmortared stone, an unapprenticed stonemason).
   • 1598 December 28, William Schaw, “The statutis and ordinanceis to be obseruit be all the maister-maissounis within this realme sett doun be Williame Schaw maister of wark to his maiestie and generall wardene of the said craft with the consent of the maisteris efter specifeit”, appendix Q in The Laws and Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland (1848), page 110

     Item That na Maister or Fallow-of-Craft ressave ony cowanis to wirk in his societie or cumpanye nor send nane of his servands to wirk wt cowanis vnder the paine of twentie pundis so often as ony persone offendis heirintill.