Yoke (yōk), n. [OE. yok,
ȝoc, AS. geoc; akin to D. juk, OHG.
joh, G. joch, Icel. & Sw. ok, Dan. aag,
Goth. juk, Lith. jungas, Russ. igo, L.
jugum, Gr. zy`gon, Skr. yuga, and to L.
jungere to join, Gr. ?, Skr. yui. √109, 280.
Cf. Join, Jougs, Joust, Jugular,
Subjugate, Syzygy, Yuga, Zeugma.]
1. A bar or frame of wood by which two oxen
are joined at the heads or necks for working together.
A yearling bullock to thy name shall smoke,
Untamed, unconscious of the galling yoke.
Pope.
☞ The modern yoke for oxen is usually a piece of timber
hollowed, or made curving, near each end, and laid on the necks of the
oxen, being secured in place by two bows, one inclosing each neck, and
fastened through the timber. In some countries the yoke consists of a
flat piece of wood fastened to the foreheads of the oxen by thongs
about the horns.
2. A frame or piece resembling a yoke, as in
use or shape. Specifically: (a) A frame of
wood fitted to a person's shoulders for carrying pails, etc.,
suspended on each side; as, a milkmaid's yoke.
(b) A frame worn on the neck of an animal, as a
cow, a pig, a goose, to prevent passage through a fence.
(c) A frame or convex piece by which a bell is
hung for ringing it. See Illust. of Bell.
(d) A crosspiece upon the head of a boat's
rudder. To its ends lines are attached which lead forward so that the
boat can be steered from amidships. (e)
(Mach.) A bent crosspiece connecting two other
parts. (f) (Arch.) 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. (g) (Dressmaking) A band
shaped to fit the shoulders or the hips, and joined to the upper full
edge of the waist or the skirt.
3. Fig.: That which connects or binds; a
chain; a link; a bond connection.
Boweth your neck under that blissful yoke . . .
Which that men clepeth spousal or wedlock.
Chaucer.
This yoke of marriage from us both
remove.
Dryden.
4. A mark of servitude; hence, servitude;
slavery; bondage; service.
Our country sinks beneath the yoke.
Shak.
My yoke is easy, and my burden is
light.
Matt. xi. 30.
5. Two animals yoked together; a couple; a
pair that work together.
I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to
prove them.
Luke xiv. 19.
6. The quantity of land plowed in a day by a
yoke of oxen. [Obs.] Gardner.
7. A portion of the working day; as, to work
two yokes, that is, to work both portions of the day, or
morning and afternoon. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Neck yoke, Pig yoke. See
under Neck, and Pig. -- Yoke elm
(Bot.), the European hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus), a
small tree with tough white wood, often used for making yokes for
cattle.