[f. YOKE sb. + FELLOW sb., transl. Gr. σύζυγος.]
1. A person ‘yoked’ or associated with another, esp. in some work or occupation; a fellow-worker; an associate or partner, esp. in a task.
1526. Tindale, Phil. iv. 3. Yee and I beseche the faythfull yockfelowe, helpe the wemen which labored with me in the gospell.
1559. Mirr. Mag., Dk. Clarence, xli. He tolde me to, my youkefelow should dye.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. iii. 56. Yoke-fellowes in Armes, let vs to France.
a. 1659. Bp. Brownrig, Serm. (1674), I. iv. 61. We must not … be Yoke-fellows with them in their Religion.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. i. 672. I know you cannot think me fit, To be th’ Yoke-fellow of your Wit.
1815. Scott, Guy M., lvi. ‘Mr. Corsand,’ said Glossin to the other yoke-fellow of justice pafter Shaks. Lear, III. vi. 39], ‘your most humble servant.’
1850. Merivale, Rom. Emp., iv. I. 193. This was the second time that these reluctant yoke-fellows had been joined together in public office.
1908. Ch. Times, 5 June, 762/1. An able, Catholic-minded and devout Prince having for his yokefellow a resolute and saintly Primate.
b. Applied to things.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 411/1. Doctrine & an honest & godly life, are two yokfelows yt cannot be sundred.
1670. Maynwaring, Vita Sana, xv. 140. Unwilling is the Soul to move her yoak-fellow, farther then the enforcing Law of Nature … commands.
1675. T. Brooks, Gold. Key, 183. Those two sinful Yoke-fellows, the soul and the body.
1852. H. Rogers, Essays (1874), I. vii. 378. Unhappy mind!… so strictly is it united to that mad yokefellow, Matter … that it can find a tongue only by its aid.
1871. Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 211. The castle … still crowns the height as no unworthy yokefellow of its ecclesiastical neighbour.
2. spec. A person joined in marriage to another; a husband or wife, spouse.
1545[?]. Brinklow, Compl., xxiv. (1874), 68. This fast … is good to be vsed … of such as be absent from their yockfelows, & prycked to fylthynes.
1629. Winthrop, Lett. to Wife, in New Eng. (1825), I. 366. It grieveth me much, that I want time and freedom of mind to discourse with thee (my faithful yokefellow).
1693. Congreve, Old Bach., IV. xxii. I have been a tender Husband, a tender Yoke-fellow.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 530, ¶ 1. Those who have most distinguished themselves by railing at the sex in general, very often make an honourable amends, by choosing one of the most worthless persons of it for a companion and yoke-fellow.
1838. Dickens, O. Twist, xxxviii. Mrs. Bumble … did not want for spirit, as her yokefellow could abundantly testify.
1871. Meredith, H. Richmond, lv. Was it possible I had ever refused to be her yokefellow?
Hence Yoke-fellowship, association, partnership.
1816. Sporting Mag., XLVIII. 57. We never heard that Godwin … slighted … the yoke-fellowship.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 113. The forced yoke-fellowship of slaves.
1879. Farrar, St. Paul, II. 108. They would … separate themselves from their incongruous yoke-fellowship with unbelief.
