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.