yoke

¹

[ yohk ]

noun

, plural yokes yoke

1. a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal. Compare harness ( def 1 ).
2. a pair of draft animals fastened together by a yoke:

   five yoke of oxen.

3. something resembling a yoke or a bow of a yoke in form or use.
4. a frame fitting the neck and shoulders of a person, for carrying a pair of buckets or the like, one at each end.
5. an agency of oppression, subjection, servitude, etc.
6. an emblem or symbol of subjection, servitude, slavery, etc., as an archway under which prisoners of war were compelled to pass by the ancient Romans and others.
7. something that couples or binds together; a bond or tie.
8. Machinery. a viselike piece gripping two parts firmly together.
9. Also called fork. a forklike termination for a rod or shaft, inside which another part is secured.
10. a fitting for the neck of a draft animal for suspending the tongue of a cart, carriage, etc., from a harness.
11. a crosshead attached to the upper piston of an opposed-piston engine with rods to transmit power to the crankshaft.
12. (in an airplane) a double handle, somewhat like a steering wheel in form, by which the elevators are controlled.
13. Nautical. a crossbar on the head of the rudder of a small boat, having lines or chains attached to the ends so as to permit the steering of the boat from forward.
14. spreader beam.
15. a shaped piece in a garment, fitted about or below the neck and shoulders or about the hips, from which the rest of the garment hangs.
16. a horizontal piece forming the top of a window frame.
17. a Y -shaped piece connecting branch pipes with a main soil pipe.
18. Television. an electromagnetic assembly placed around the neck of a cathode-ray tube to produce and control the scanning motion of electron beams inside the tube.
19. British Dialect. (especially in Kent)
    1. the time during which a plowman and team work without stopping; a period of plowing.
    2. a measure or area of land equal to over 50 but less than 60 acres.
20. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter Y.

verb (used with object)

, yoked, yok·ing.

1. to put a yoke on; join or couple by means of a yoke.
2. to attach (a draft animal) to a plow or vehicle:

   to yoke oxen.

3. to harness a draft animal to (a plow or vehicle):

   to yoke a wagon.

4. to join, couple, link, or unite.
5. Obsolete. to bring into subjection or servitude.

verb (used without object)

, yoked, yok·ing.

1. to be or become joined, linked, or united.

yoke

²

[ yohk ]

noun

1. yolk.

yoke

/ jəʊk /

noun

1. a wooden frame, usually consisting of a bar with an oxbow or similar collar-like piece at either end, for attaching to the necks of a pair of draught animals, esp oxen, so that they can be worked as a team
2. something resembling a yoke in form or function, such as a frame fitting over a person's shoulders for carrying buckets suspended at either end
3. a fitted part of a garment, esp around the neck, shoulders, and chest or around the hips, to which a gathered, pleated, flared, or unfitted part is attached
4. an immense oppressive force or burden

   under the yoke of a tyrant

5. a pair of oxen or other draught animals joined together by a yoke
6. a part, esp one of relatively thick cross section, that secures two or more components so that they move together
7. a crosshead that transmits the drive of an opposed piston engine from the upper of a pair of linked pistons to the crankshaft through a connecting rod
8. a steel framework around the formwork during the casting of concrete
9. nautical a crossbar fixed athwartships to the head of a rudderpost in a small boat, to which are attached ropes or cables for steering
10. a Y-shaped cable, rope, or chain, used for holding, towing, etc
11. (in the ancient world) a symbolic reconstruction of a yoke, consisting of two upright spears with a third lashed across them, under which conquered enemies were compelled to march, esp in Rome
12. a mark, token, or symbol of slavery, subjection, or suffering
13. rare.
    a link, tie, or bond

    the yoke of love

14. dialect.
    a period of steady work, esp the time during which a ploughman and his team work at a stretch
15. any device, unusual object, or gadget

    where's the yoke for opening tins?

verb

1. tr to secure or harness (a draught animal) to (a plough, vehicle, etc) by means of a yoke
2. to join or be joined by means of a yoke; couple, unite, or link
3. obsolete.
   tr to oppress, burden, or enslave

Derived Forms

• ˈyokeless, adjective

Other Words From

• yokeless adjective
• well-yoked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of yoke¹

First recorded before 900; (noun) Middle English yok(e), from Old English geoc; cognate with Dutch juk, German Joch, Old Norse ok, Latin jugum, Greek zygón, Hittite yugan, Sanskrit yuga; (verb) Middle English yoken, Old English geocian, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yoke¹

Old English geoc; related to Old High German ioh, Old Norse ok, Gothic juk, Latin iugum, Sanskrit yugam

Synonym Study

See pair.

Example Sentences

Schiff criticized Garvey for voting for Trump three times, including in this year’s primaries, and sought to yoke him to Trump’s most unpopular policy proposals, including mass deportations of people living in the country illegally.

From Los Angeles Times

Vice President Harris is also not burdened by being part of a political dynasty yoked to the past.

From Salon

“Megalopolis” isn’t well-served by synopses that call it a “city poem” or yoke its wild ambitions to ancient Rome’s power struggles or municipal intrigue.

From Los Angeles Times

That was exactly what the founders sought to avoid, having thrown off the yoke of an all-powerful monarch.

From New York Times

I carried the body on my back, with the arms over each of my shoulders like a yoke.

From Literature