ox

¹

[ oks ]

noun

, plural ox·en [ok, -s, uh, n] ox·es

1. the adult castrated male of the genus Bos, used chiefly as a draft animal.
2. any member of the bovine family.
3. Informal. a clumsy, stupid fellow.

ox-

²

Chemistry.

1. a combining form meaning “containing oxygen”:

   oxazine.

Ox.

³

abbreviation for

1. Oxford.

ox

/ ɒks /

noun

1. an adult castrated male of any domesticated species of cattle, esp Bos taurus, used for draught work and meat
2. any bovine mammal, esp any of the domestic cattle

Other Words From

• oxlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ox¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English oxe, Old English oxa; cognate with Old Frisian oxa, Old Saxon, Old High German ohso, Old Norse uxi, oxi; akin to Welsh ych

Origin of ox²

Short for oxygen

Origin of ox³

From the Medieval Latin word Oxonia

Word History and Origins

Origin of ox¹

Old English oxa; related to Old Saxon, Old High German ohso, Old Norse oxi

Example Sentences

Ahead of the third and final Biffy Clyro show, the couple went to Saint Lukes & the Winged Ox, meeting up with fellow Biffy Clyro fans.

From BBC

In a 2012 episode of “Mad Men,” a girl visiting New York City’s American Museum of Natural History — filmed, in another twist on reality and representation, in L.A. — asks about the musk ox diorama, “How’d they get all these animals?”

From Los Angeles Times

"They say he's strong as an ox, leaps tall buildings in a single bound, we don't have that kind of warped reality on our side."

From Salon

“They say he’s strong as an ox, leaps tall buildings in a single bound. We don’t have that kind of warped reality on our side.”

From Salon

She didn’t know Louise from Adam’s off ox.

From Literature