• Yoke

    Pronunciation

    • UK enPR: yōk, IPA: /jəʊk/
    • Rhymes: -əʊk
    • Homophones: yolk

    Origin

    From Old English ġeoc, from Proto-Germanic *juką, from Proto-Indo-European *yugóm. Cognate with West Frisian jok, Dutch juk, German Joch, Danish åg, Swedish ok, Gothic 𐌾𐌿𐌺, Latin iugum (English jugular), Greek ζυγός (zugós, "yoke"), Sanskrit युग (yugá, "yoke, team"), Old Church Slavonic иго (Russian иго), Persian یوغ. Compare yoga.

    Full definition of yoke

    Noun

    yoke

    (plural yokes)
    1. A bar or frame of wood by which two oxen are joined at the heads or necks for working together.
      • Alexander PopeA yearling bullock to thy name shall smoke,
        Untamed, unconscious of the galling yoke.
    2. A pair (of animals, especially oxen).
      • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Luke XIV:And another sayd: I have bought fyve yooke of oxen, and I must goo to prove them, I praye the have me excused.
    3. A frame made to fit the neck and shoulders of a person, used for carrying a pair of buckets, etc., one at each end of the frame.
    4. A frame worn on the neck of an animal, such as a cow, pig, or goose, to prevent passage through a fence.
    5. (figuratively) A burden; something which represses or restrains a person.
    6. A frame or convex piece by which a bell is hung for ringing it.
    7. The part of a shirt that stretches over the shoulders, usually made out of a doubled piece of fabric. Or, a pair of fabric panels on trousers (especially jeans) or a skirt, across the back of the garment below the waistband.
      • 1913, Willa Cather, ... this city child was dressed in what was then called the "Kate Greenaway" manner, and her red cashmere frock, gathered full from the yoke, came almost to the floor.
    8. (bodybuilding) Well-developed muscles of the neck and shoulders.
      • 2010, Jim Wendler, "Build an NFL Neck", Men's Fitness (April), page 73.Nothing says you're a dedicated lifter and true athlete more than a massive yoke—that is, the muscles of the neck, traps, and rear delts.
    9. (aviation) The column-mounted Yoke (aircraft) of an aircraft.
    10. (electronics) The electro-magnetic coil that deflects the electron beam in a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube).
    11. (nautical) A fitting placed across the head of the rudder with a line attached at each end by which a boat may be steered. In modern use it is primarily found in sailing canoes and kayaks.
    12. (agriculture, dated, uncommon) An alternative name for a cowpoke.
    13. (glassblowing) A Y-shaped stand used to support a blowpipe or punty while reheating in the glory hole.
    14. (engineering) A bent crosspiece connecting two other parts.
    15. A tie securing two timbers together, not used for part of a regular truss, but serving a temporary purpose, as to provide against unusual strain.
    16. (dressmaking) A band shaped to fit the shoulders or the hips, and joined to the upper full edge of the waist or the skirt.
    17. The amount of land ploughed in a day by a pair of oxen.
    18. A portion of the working day.to work two yokes, i.e. to work both morning and afternoon
    19. (informal, Ireland) A miscellaneous object; a gadget.
    20. Misspelling of yolk

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Verb

    1. To link or to join.
      • Orwell Animal Farm|6... Muriel and Benjamin yoked themselves into an old governess-cart and did their share.
    2. To unite, to connect.
      • Bible, 2 Corinthians vi. 14Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers.
    3. To enslave; to bring into bondage; to restrain; to confine.
      • MiltonThen were they yoked with garrisons.
      • HudibrasThe words and promises that yoke
        The conqueror are quickly broke.

    Derived terms

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