n.
- a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plough or cart that they pull in unison.
▸
(pl. same or yokes)
a pair of animals yoked together.
▸archaic the amount of land that one pair of oxen could plough in a day.
- a frame fitting over the neck and shoulders of a person, used for carrying pails or baskets.
- a part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and to which the main part of the garment is attached.
- (in ancient Rome) an arch of three spears under which a defeated army was made to march.
- something regarded as oppressive or burdensome:
the yoke of imperialism.
- the crossbar of a rudder.
v.
put a yoke on; couple or attach with or to a yoke.
Etymology
OE geoc (n.), geocian (v.), of Gmc origin.