Forms: see the sb.; also 1 pa. pple. ʓeiukod, 3 pa. t. ȝeokede, ȝogede, 4 oak, pa. pple. y-ȝoket, y-yokyd, Sc. ȝakkit, 5 pa. pple. ȝeokyn, 6 Sc. ȝolk, pa. pple. iooked. [OE. ʓeocian, f. ʓeoc YOKE sb.]

1

  1.  trans. To put a yoke on (a pair of draught-animals, etc.); to couple with a yoke. Also with up (? Colonial).

2

a. 1000.  Colloq. Ælfric, in Wr.-Wülcker, 90. Iunctis bobus, ʓeiukodan oxan.

3

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gram. (Z.), 174. Iungo, ic iuciʓe [v.r. ʓeociʓe].

4

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 251. Steeris well y-yokyd.

5

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1839), xxvi. 269. For o Griffoun there wil bere, fleynge to his Nest, a gret Hors or 2 Oxen ȝoked to gidere, as thei gon at the Plowghe.

6

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 902. Ȝyuerly the ȝepe knight ȝokit hom belyue, Pight hom into ploghe.

7

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 539/1. Ȝokke beestys (S. ȝok, P. ȝockyn, W. yoken).

8

1530.  Palsgr., 786/2. Yoke the oxen, for I wyll go to the plough this mornyng.

9

1641.  J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 166. It was cautioned in the Law not to yoake an Oxe, and an Asse together.

10

1724.  Swift, Drapier’s Lett., Wks. 1755, V. II. 100. I shall … learn to consider my driver, the road I am in, and with whom I am yoked.

11

1775.  Ann. Reg., Chron., 98/2. The prisoners were all secured and yoked.

12

1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xviii. A bullock-driver yoking-up his beast.

13

1880.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Tramp Abr., xi. A peasant’s cart,… drawn by a small cow and a smaller donkey yoked together.

14

  2.  To attach (a draught-animal) to a plow or vehicle (orig. with a yoke); to ‘put in,’ ‘put to.’

15

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, iv. (Jacobus), 329, 332. Scho had bulis wilde and tate, Þat scho nocht trewit mycht ȝakkit be In carte,… And, gyf It hapnyt þat þai Var ȝokit, suld ryne away.

16

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. lxiii[i]. (Bodl. MS.). A ȝonge cowe þat is able to be ȝoked [ed. 1495 yockid] to drawe at plowȝ.

17

c. 1420.  Prose Life Alex., 78. We tille na lande,… ne ȝokes noþer ox ne horse in plughe ne in carte.

18

c. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 211. Þe bulles mekely stodyn styll, tyll þay had ȝeokyn ham yn þe wayne.

19

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. vi. 7. Take two mylke kyne,… and yocke them to ye cart.

20

1650.  J. Nicoll, Diary (Bann. Club), 12. The hangman rydand on ane hors befoir him yockit in that cairt.

21

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 69. Produce the Plough, and yoke the sturdy Steer.

22

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), III. 199. Lions have been yoked to the chariots of conquerors.

23

1856.  Kane, Arctic Expl., I. xvii. 210. They yoked in their dogs in less than two minutes.

24

1871.  C. Gibbon, For Lack of Gold, xvii. Four fresh horses which had been ‘yoked’ at Abbotskirk.

25

1882.  ‘Ouida,’ Maremma, ii. Twice a year regularly she yoked her mule to her cart and drove into Grosseto.

26

  b.  With the plow or vehicle as object.

27

a. 1568.  Wyfe of Auchtermuchty, i. (Bann. MS.). He yokkit his plwch vpoun the plane.

28

1635.  Reg. Privy Council Scot., Ser. II. VI. 37. He yocked the cairt wherein Cokstouns chartour kist wes caried away.

29

1638.  A. Henderson, Serm. Ps. cxxix. 3 (1867), 276. Without his license the pleugh cannot be yoked.

30

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, XII. 433. These on their Horses vault, those yoke the Car.

31

a. 1774.  Fergusson, Hame Content, 62. The chaise is yokit in a trice.

32

1869.  Gibbon, Robin Gray, xxii. He said he would ’yoke the cart.’

33

1871.  Ellis, Catullus, lv. 18. Rhesus’ chariot yok’d to snowy coursers.

34

  c.  gen. To attach, put on or in (as a yoke).

35

c. 1848.  Keegan, Leg. & Poems (1907), 470. The Scotchman.. ‘yoked on’ his war-pipes, and the … rafters … rang … with the martial strains of the Highland Pibroch.

36

1853.  Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxiv. (1856), 196. By the time I had yoked my neck in its serape.

37

  3.  To fasten a yoke round the neck of (a hog or other animal): see YOKE sb. 2.

38

1530.  Palsgr., 786/2. You muste yoke your hogge, for he ronneth thorowe every hedge.

39

1607.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 442. That all thinhabitants of this lordship yoke or ring their swine sufficiently.

40

1657.  J. Watts, Scribe, Pharisee, etc., Ep. Rdr. c j b. So yoking and ringling the wild Boars amongst them … that they may not break through the hedges, or down the walls of the vineyard of the Lord.

41

1708.  in Hist. Anc. Chapel Stretford (Chetham Soc.), II. 84. Wm. Moss for not yoaking and ringing his swine, 2s.

42

1840.  Colquitt, in Congr. Globe, Jan., App. 145/2. If they think it … a duty … to yoke the geese to keep them from going in washing in violation of the Sabbath.

43

1886.  [see YOKE sb. 2].

44

  4.  To suspend (a bell) on a yoke (see YOKE sb. 4, quot. 1864).

45

1701.  in W. S. Banks, Walks Yorksh., Wakefield, etc. (1871), 44. John Hinchliff for yoaking ye bell 2 18 6.

46

  5.  Mining. To mark out (a claim) with ‘yokings’ (see YOKING vbl. sb. 6).

47

1556[?].  in Pettus, Fodinæ Reg. (1670), 96. All Grounds, as Crosses and Holes that be not stowed nor yoked lawfully.

48

1664.  [see STOWCE].

49

  6.  trans. To bring into or hold in subjection or servitude; to subjugate, oppress. Now rare or Obs.

50

c. 1325.  Old Age, iii. in E.E.P. (1862), 149. Y-ȝoket ic am of ȝore wiþ last an luþer lore.

51

a. 1529.  Skelton, Col. Cloute, 325. The pore people they yoke With sommons and citacyons.

52

1542.  Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 300 b. Vntill thei wer yoked by the thirtie tyrannes, and afterwarde conquered and subdued by Philippus.

53

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 185. With traditiounis of men we haif thame ȝockit.

54

1592.  Kyd, Sol. & Pers., IV. i. All Rhodes is yoakt, and stoopes to Soliman.

55

1605.  Camden, Rem. (1637), 29. The Normans, who … would have yoaked the English under their tongue, as they did under their command.

56

1647.  N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., I. lvii. (1739), 106. He was fain to yoke his lawless will under the grand Charter.

57

1667.  Milton, P. L., X. 307. Xerxes, the Libertie of Greece to yoke. Ibid. (1671), Samson, 410. But foul effeminacy held me yok’t Her Bond-slave.

58

1781.  Cowper, Table T., 258. As well be yok’d by despotism’s hand, As dwell at large in Britain’s charter’d land.

59

  7.  fig. To join, link, couple, connect, associate; † occas. to embrace.

60

c. 1205.  Lay., 1872. Heo ȝeokeden [c. 1275 ȝogede] heora earmes & ȝarweden heom seoluan.

61

a. 1400.  Prymer (1891), 111. Oak nouȝt me to gydere with synneres.

62

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, xxiv. 89. Whiles that the sterres ben in theyr courses well yocked.

63

a. 1508.  Dunbar, Tua Mariit Wemen, 220. [He] with a ȝoldin ȝerd, dois ȝolk me in armys.

64

1561.  Winȝet, Bk. Questions, § 53, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 110. The matrimonie to be dissoluit, and the twa harlotis to be ȝokit vp in a prætendit band of matrimonie.

65

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 319. The Earle of Angus and the Earle of Glencairneis was ȝokit togither.

66

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 419. Oh then,… my Name Be yoak’d with his, that did betray the Best.

67

1612.  T. Taylor, Comm. Titus, i. 16. Let euery of vs be carefull to approoue our sinceritie to God … by yoking answerable practise to our profession.

68

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, I. viii. 171. The two Riuers (as it were) yoked together goe along it.

69

1638.  Farley, Moral Embl., x. Foure Elements in this my body are All yockt in one.

70

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xiv. Sae mony royal boroughs yoked on end to end, like ropes of ingans.

71

1865.  J. G. Holland, Plain Talks, ii. 67. Ambition, when yoked with genius.

72

1867.  Dk. Argyll, Reign of Law, ii. 103. It often happens that some common law is yoked to extraordinary conditions.

73

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xxiv. 420. Cato was one of those better natured men whom revolution yokes so often with base companionship.

74

  b.  With reference to marriage: only in pa. pple.

75

1604.  Shaks., Oth., IV. i. 67. Thinke euery bearded fellow that’s but yoak’d May draw with you.

76

1632.  Sanderson, Serm., 364. He that is yoaked with a wife must not put her away.

77

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 455, ¶ 3. I have the Honour to be yok’d to a young Lady.

78

1847.  Tennyson, Princess, VII. 340. My bride, My wife, my life. O we will walk this world, Yoked in all exercise of noble end.

79

  c.  To join or couple the ridges in plowing.

80

1812.  Souter, Agric. Banff, App. 82. We are directed to yoke awal and bear-root, that is to plow the ridges by pairs. Ibid. We must take care not to yoke twice one way, otherwise it will impoverish the one half, and thicken the other too much.

81

1844.  H. Stephens, Bk. Farm, I. 470. Another mode of ploughing land from the flat surface is casting or yoking or coupling the ridges.

82

  8.  intr. (for refl.) To join, associate oneself, be or become connected or linked. Now rare.

83

1500–20.  Dunbar, Poems, lv. 33. Keip ȝou fra harlattis nycht and day: Thay sall repent quha with thame ȝockis.

84

a. 1592.  Greene, Jas. IV., V. ii. That galling grief and I may yoke in one.

85

1607.  Shaks., Cor., III. i. 57. You must enquire your way,… with a gentler spirit, Or neuer be so Noble as a Consull, Nor yoake with him for Tribune.

86

1851.  Tennyson, To the Queen, 10. The care That yokes with empire.

87

  b.  with reference to the married state.

88

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., IV. i. 23. God forbid, that I should wish them seuer’d, Whom God hath ioyn’d together: I, and ’twere pittie, to sunder them, That yoake so well together.

89

1624.  Fletcher, Rule a Wife, I. iv. Alt. Shee would faine marry. 1. Lady.… Who would she yoke with?

90

  9.  intr. To join battle, engage (with an enemy); to engage in a contest or dispute; rarely trans. to engage in dispute with, attack. Sc.

91

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), III. 333. Syne he and tha hes ȝokkit sone togidder In plane battell.

92

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, V. 92. We sooner see goe to the hacke, the dull and fearful foke, Than hardie souldiors in the field, who wishe with foes to yoke.

93

1587.  Montgomerie, Sonn., xix. 12. Ȝok vhen we will, I hope to gar him ȝeild.

94

1646.  R. Baillie, Lett. & Jrnls. (1841), II. 398. The orthodoxe and heterodoxe partie will yoke about it with all their strength.

95

1822.  Chalmers, in Hanna, Mem. (1850), II. 360. I … yoked upon him, and posed him well with questions.

96

1901.  N. Munro, Doom Castle, xv. She yoked himsel’ on his jyling the lassie.

97

  10.  trans. To set (a person or thing) to work or service (usually consciously fig. from 2); dial. to urge to attack, set (a dog) upon a person.

98

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., II. i. 116. There’s Vlysses, and old Nestor,… yoke you like draft-Oxen, and make you plough vp the warre.

99

1637.  Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. cxiv. 285. He hath yoked me to work, to wrestle with Christ’s love.

100

1681.  Colvil, Whigs Supplic. (1751), 98. Bishops either will cause stone him, or else yoak butcher dogs upon him.

101

1805.  MacIndoe, in Chambers, Pop. Hum. Scot. Poems (1862), 152. To count, his man and Tam were yoket, Ten hunder thousand tatties.

102

1807.  Coleridge, Lett. to H. Coleridge, 3 April. Mere natural qualities … must not be deemed virtues until they are broken in and yoked to the plough of Reason.

103

1867.  Dk. Argyll, Reign of Law, iii. 128. It is by wisdom and knowledge that the Forces of Nature … are yoked to service.

104

1910.  W. R. Nicoll, Round of Clock, xv. 230. He yoked his great imagination to constant labour.

105

  11.  intr. To engage vigorously in some occupation; to set to work, set to; to put one’s hands to; to set on a person. Sc.

106

1554.  in Tytler, Hist. Scot. (1864), III. 29. [‘Oh!’ said Angus, ‘that I had here my white goss-hawk: we should then all] yoke [at once’].

107

1637.  Rutherford, Lett. (1862), I. xciv. 243. O, if I could yoke in amongst the thick of angels and seraphims and now-glorified saints!

108

1685.  Peden, Lett. to Prisoners, July. He is the easiest merchant ever the people of God yoked with.

109

1768.  Ross, Helenore, 20. Right yape she yoked to the pleasing feast.

110

1816.  Chalmers, in Hanna, Mem. (1850), II. 83. I yoked to the review of ‘Jones.’ Ibid. (1818), 444. In homely phrase … she yoked to the reading of the Bible upon that principle.

111

1823.  Mrs. E. Logan, St. Johnstoun, ix. Wi’ that they a’ yoked to me, and hoisted me ower into the cobble.

112

1886.  J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 74. To Yoke, to resume work.

113

1895.  Marchbank, Coven. Annandale, xi. They yoked on the man as he was riding alang in his carriage.

114