COWES, WEST, a seaport-town of the Isle of Wight, at the mouth of the Medina, 4 miles N. of Newport, and 78 miles from London. It occupies a rising ground on the W. bank of the river, presenting a striking appearance from the sea. The streets are narrow and irregular; but many of the modern buildings are handsome, and in the vicinity are numerous elegant villas. It is much resorted to for sea-bathing, and has numerous hotels and lodging-houses for the accommodation of visitors. The harbour is safe and convenient, and its entrance is defended by a battery. It forms the rendezvous of the Royal Yacht Club, who hold their annual regatta here. It has a very considerable coasting trade. Exports, chiefly agricultural produce and malt; imports, coal, colonial produce, manufactured goods, &c. Ship-building is extensively carried on. On the opposite side of the river, which is here about half-a-mile broad, is East Cowes, where is the custom-house of the port, and near which is Osborne House the marine residence of Her Majesty. Pop. (1851) 4786.
COWHAGE or COWITCH (Hindustanee, kiwach), the short brittle hairs or spicules found on the pods of several species of Dolichos or Mucuna, indigenous both to India and America. The plants belong to the natural order of Leguminosae. The species affording the cowhage are chiefly M. pruriens, M. urens, and M. monosperma. The hairs when applied to the human skin produce intense itching and inflammation; yet when mixed with syrup they are administered in the Eastern and in the Western World with advantage as a vermifuge, both to adults and to children.