The original meaning of Cowan described a stone mason who worked without having served an apprenticeship. In later times, it was used by Freemasons to denote a non-initiate who poses as a Mason, or simply a non-initiate.
In Wiccan/Neopagan parlance, a sometimes derogatory term meaning nonbeliever or scoffer. (although "muggle" seems to be fast overtaking this term in common usage) It does not mean "traitor" as is sometimes averred.
