Oxgang

Origin

From Middle English oxegang, from Old English oxangang ("an eighth of a plough-land, a hide"), equivalent to ox + gang.

Full definition of oxgang

Noun

1. (archaic or Old English Law) The area of land that could be ploughed by an ox in a day; one eighth of a carucate.
2. (archaic or Old English Law) A measure of land of uncertain quantity.
3. (archaic, UK dialectal, Scotland) A measure of land equivalent to thirteen acres.

Usage notes

Land was normally ploughed with a team of eight oxen. An oxgang is roughly 13-15 acres, an eighth share of the land ploughed by an ox team in a day. The area differed by locality. In Scottish law it was about 13 acres - but this was also dependent on soil quality.

Synonyms

• bovate, oxgate, oxengate