What is the difference between a cowling and a fairing

Welcome to ELL. I suspect this is an undecided lexical argument even among native speakers, although only an enthusiast would care whether you belong to the cowling tribe or the fairing tribe : — Andrew. I don't think there's much difference, but from what I can tell from a few web searches, fairing is much more common than cowling. I've owned motorcycles for twenty years in the US, and I've never heard the term "cowling.

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Yamaha on their website use the term cowling for, in this case, a full cowl that fits with the standard upper fairing of the motorcycle. This is what confuses me. It seems like the cowl is something you attach the fairing in this case. But a search for a full fairing, will bring results picturing motorcycles with full fairing looking like this cowl.

Here's a better photo of the same part. You can see that it covers the engine. It also happens to protect the lower body and attaches to the "upper fairing," which is the windshield and protection for arms. I still think cowling is a term meant just for engines. Because it covers the engine AND protects the rider, it can be called either a cowling or a lower fairing.

Fancy or no fancy, if a woman asked him for a fairing , he would give it her, or I don't know my gentleman. Why, you know it is fair day, and you promised Bessie that you would buy her a fairing ,—to say nothing of me.

When they parted, Burns paid Clark his wages in full, gave him a written character, and a shilling for a fairing. The captain's wife began teasing him for a fairing , which he very bluntly refused to bestow. One of them kicked out behind, and had nearly given me a blow on the breast, so that I might have said I had had my fairing! New Word List Word List. Save This Word! He expected to see his rain of lead tear through the cowling of the stranger and deal death and frenzy.

Joan was hurled into Epworths arms, and both were tossed up and down in their seats, and against the light cowling. Her eyes sought the cowling of the little machine fearfully. New Word List Word List.