Yoke

a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, especially oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal.
compare harness (def 1).
a pair of draft animals fastened together by a yoke:
five yoke of oxen.
something resembling a yoke or a bow of a yoke in form or use.
a frame fitting the neck and shoulders of a person, for carrying a pair of buckets or the like, one at each end.
an agency of oppression, subjection, servitude, etc.
an emblem or symbol of subjection, servitude, slavery, etc., as an archway under which prisoners of war were compelled to p-ss by the ancient romans and others.
something that couples or binds together; a bond or tie.
machinery. a viselike piece gripping two parts firmly together.
also called fork. a forklike termination for a rod or shaft, inside which another part is secured.
a fitting for the neck of a draft animal for suspending the tongue of a cart, carriage, etc., from a harness.
a crosshead attached to the upper piston of an opposed-piston engine with rods to transmit power to the crankshaft.
(in an airplane) a double handle, somewhat like a steering wheel in form, by which the elevators are controlled.
nautical. a crossbar on the head of the rudder of a small boat, having lines or chains attached to the ends so as to permit the steering of the boat from forward.
spreader beam.
a shaped piece in a garment, fitted about or below the neck and shoulders or about the hips, from which the rest of the garment hangs.
a horizontal piece forming the top of a window frame.
a y -shaped piece connecting branch pipes with a main soil pipe.
television. an electromagnetic -ssembly placed around the neck of a cathode-ray tube to produce and control the scanning motion of electron beams inside the tube.
british dialect.

the time during which a plowman and team work without stopping; a period of plowing.
a measure or area of land equal to over 50 but less than 60 acres.

a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter y.
to put a yoke on; join or couple by means of a yoke.
to attach (a draft animal) to a plow or vehicle:
to yoke oxen.
to harness a draft animal to (a plow or vehicle):
to yoke a wagon.
to join, couple, link, or unite.
obsolete. to bring into subjection or servitude.
to be or become joined, linked, or united.
yolk.
contemporary examples

don’t let the maccabees win matt lerner december 3, 2013
israeli high court judges let the oppressed go free at yom kippur joshua bloom september 17, 2013
hey america, where are you? u.s. has slim presence at davos daniel gross january 22, 2013
justice scalia goes gun crazy adam winkler august 21, 2013
what progressives want from obama’s second term anthony woods november 25, 2012

historical examples

the london pulpit j. ewing ritchie
in the valley harold frederic
history of egypt, chalda, syria, babylonia, and -ssyria, volume 4 (of 12) g. maspero
the life of horatio lord nelson robert southey
friar tuck robert alexander wason

noun (pl) yokes, yoke
a wooden frame, usually consisting of a bar with an oxbow or similar collar-like piece at either end, for attaching to the necks of a pair of draught animals, esp oxen, so that they can be worked as a team
something resembling a yoke in form or function, such as a frame fitting over a person’s shoulders for carrying buckets suspended at either end
a fitted part of a garment, esp around the neck, shoulders, and chest or around the hips, to which a gathered, pleated, flared, or unfitted part is attached
an immense oppressive force or burden: under the yoke of a tyrant
a pair of oxen or other draught animals joined together by a yoke
a part, esp one of relatively thick cross section, that secures two or more components so that they move together
a crosshead that transmits the drive of an opposed piston engine from the upper of a pair of linked pistons to the crankshaft through a connecting rod
a steel framework around the formwork during the casting of concrete
(nautical) a crossbar fixed athwartships to the head of a rudderpost in a small boat, to which are attached ropes or cables for steering
a y-shaped cable, rope, or chain, used for holding, towing, etc
(in the ancient world) a symbolic reconstruction of a yoke, consisting of two upright spears with a third lashed across them, under which conquered enemies were compelled to march, esp in rome
a mark, token, or symbol of slavery, subjection, or suffering
(rare) a link, tie, or bond: the yoke of love
(brit, dialect) a period of steady work, esp the time during which a ploughman and his team work at a stretch
(irish) any device, unusual object, or gadget: where’s the yoke for opening tins?
verb
(transitive) to secure or harness (a draught animal) to (a plough, vehicle, etc) by means of a yoke
to join or be joined by means of a yoke; couple, unite, or link
(transitive) (obsolete) to oppress, burden, or enslave
n.
v.