Obs. [ad. L. jūment-um (contraction of jugimentum) yoke-beast, f. stem jug-, of jungĕre to join, jugum yoke. Cf. F. jument, in OF. beast of burden; now, mare.] A beast of burden, also a beast in general.
1382. Wyclif, Gen. i. 25. And God made beestis of the erthe aftir ther special kyndes, iumentis [Vulg. jumenta], and al the crepynge thing. Ibid., Acts xxiii. 24. Make ȝe redy iumentis [gloss or hors].
1491. Caxton, Vitas Patr. (W. de W., 1495), I. xxviii. 24 b/2. A yonge damoysell, the whiche bi arte magyk was conuerted in to a Iument or a mare.
c. 1510. Barclay, Mirr. Gd. Manners (1570), D vj. Thy soule … hath shape and ymage of God omnipotent Thy body is mortall as beast or vile iument.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. II. i. That men should feed on such a kinde of meat, Which very iuments would refuse to eat.
1638–48. G. Daniel, Eclog., i. 42. You can forsake the Citye to Converse With Earth and Iuments.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Misc. Tracts, 32. Fit to fasten their Juments, and Beasts of labour unto them.
1816. Gentl. Mag., LXXXVI. I. 420. A jackass may be properly and lineally descended from Balaam’s jument. Ibid. (1820), April, 311. Jument. This word … is in danger of being wholly lost. It means a beast of burden.
