Yoke

/jəʊk/ · noun

Meaning

Senses relating to a frame around the neck..

Definitions by Sense

1. Senses relating to a frame around the neck.
2. Senses relating to a pair of harnessed draught animals.
3. Senses relating to quantities, and other extended uses.
4. To join (several draught animals) together with a yoke; also, to fasten a yoke (on one or more draught animals) to pull a cart, plough, etc.; or to attach (a cart, plough, etc.) to a draught animal.
5. To put (one's arm or arms) around someone's neck, waist, etc.; also, to surround (someone's neck, waist, etc.) with one's arms.
6. To put (something) around someone's neck like a yoke; also, to surround (someone's neck) with something.
7. To place a collar on the neck of (a conquered person or prisoner) to restrain movement.
8. To place a frame on the neck of (an animal such as a cow, pig, or goose) to prevent passage through a fence or other barrier.

Example Sentences

Bubulcus, […] An oxeheard, or coweheard: a driuer of oxen and kine: he that yoketh oxen, and […] goeth to plowe with them.

But when Astrea’s Ballance, hung on high, / Betwixt the Nights and Days divides the Sky, / Then Yoke your Oxen, ſow your Winter Grain; / ’Till cold December comes with driving Rain.

Theſe on their Horſes vault, thoſe yoke the Car; / The reſt with Swords on high, run headlong to the War.

However, it is probable that even the fierceſt could be rendered domeſtic, if man thought the conqueſt worth the trouble. Lions have been yoked to the chariots of conquerors, and tigers have been taught to tend thoſe herds which they are known at preſent to deſtroy; […]

Nodhas, son of Gotama, has fabricated this new prayer to thee, O India, who art eternal, and yokest thy coursers, […]

Twice a year regularly she yoked her mule to her cart and drove into Grosseto, making a two days' journey on the road each way, on purpose to sell the homespun linen she had woven from the thread she had spun in the six months' time.

As we tramped gaily out at the gate of the town, we overtook a peasant's cart, partly laden with odds and ends of cabbages and similar vegetable rubbish, and drawn by a small cow and a smaller donkey yoked together.

The men go to the war daily. It is the women who do all the work at home, having been well taught in their childhood. We have only yoked one buffalo to the plough up till now. It is now time to yoke up the milch-buffaloes.

Synonyms for yoke

Antonyms for yoke

Related Words

Word Forms

• yokes
• yoking
• yoked

Usage Notes

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