noun
yoke
yohk
noun
1
A wooden bar or frame joining two draught animals, such as oxen, at the neck so they can pull a plough or cart together.
"The farmer fitted the oxen with a heavy wooden yoke before ploughing the field."
2
The part of a garment that fits around the shoulders or hips, from which the rest hangs.
"The dress had an embroidered yoke across the shoulders."
3
Figuratively, a burden, bond, or restraint imposed on someone, such as oppression or an obligation.
"The country finally threw off the yoke of foreign rule."
"Marriage was described in the old text as "the marriage yoke.""
verb
1
To join two draught animals together with a yoke, or attach them to a cart or plough.
"They yoked the oxen at dawn before setting out to plough."
2
To link or unite two things or people closely, often in a way that feels restrictive.
"The two companies were yoked together by the merger, for better or worse."
How to Use Yoke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally, the wooden crosspiece that joins two animals to pull a load together; figuratively, any burden, bond, or restrictive tie between people or things.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "yolk," the yellow part of an egg — they sound identical but are spelled and mean completely different things.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
yoke oxen together
under the yoke of
shoulder yoke (clothing)
Word Forms
yoked past tense, yokes plural, yokes singular
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The farmer fitted the oxen with a heavy wooden _____ before ploughing the field.
Etymology
From Old English "geoc," from a very old Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to join" — the same root that gives us "yoga" and "jugular."