Middle English Dictionary Entry
yōken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | yōken v. Also yok(e, ȝok(e(n, ȝokke, jockin, oak; p.pl. (early SWM) ȝogede, ȝeokeden; ppl. yoked, etc. & iyoked, iȝoked, iȝoket, ȝochid, ȝeokin, (early) iȝokede, iȝeokede. |
| Etymology | OE geocian, p.ppl. geiukod. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To put a harness on (a draft animal), yoke; couple (a pair of animals) with a yoke, double harness; also, yoke (one animal to another); also fig.; ~ togeder;
(b) to harness (an animal to a plow); attach (an animal to a plow, cart, etc.) with a harness; also fig.;
(c) ppl. yoked as adj., of a cart: equipped with a yoke or harness;
(d) to lock (arms) in a wrestling grip.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Wor.Gloss.(Otho C.1)691/275 : Geiucode: iȝeokede, iȝokede.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.445 : Ȝif a ȝong sheep, þat is Anselyn, schal be y-coupled and y-ȝoked to a wylde bole, þat is William þe rede…þe solouȝ of holy cherche schal nouȝt goo aryȝt.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1149/5 : Oxen mowe bettre trauaile whanne þay beþ yȝoked by þe hornes þan whan þey beþ yȝoked by þe nekke.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1150/36 : An oxeherde…ȝokeþ hem and makeþ hem drawen atte plough.
- a1400 Primer (StJ-C G.24)111 : Oak nouȝt me to gydere with synneres.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)107/15 : An untame, insolent cow mai greue alle his felawes and lette fro goode telþe al þe hole plow, And Crist loueþ none such to ȝoke ne drawen wiþ hem.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3309 : Þe sterne bolis…He drowe hem forþe…And ȝoketh hem, so as þe maner was, And with þe plowe he made hem gon a pas.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)35b/b : Iugo: to ȝoke [Hrl 1738: jockyn; Cnt: to yoke, to sett to gyder].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)60b/b : Siniugus: to gedere ȝoked [Hrl 1738: ȝochyd].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)179/6 : O Griffoun þere wil bere, fleynge to his nest, a gret hors…or ij oxen ȝoked togidere, as þei gon at the plowgh.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)539 : Ȝokke [Win: ȝok] beestys: Jugo.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.793 : The wilde oxe with the tame Yyoked be to teche hym how to do.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.251 : Iche rewme…Sholde stable and stonde…By styffnesse and strengthe of steeris well y-yokyd, Þat beth myȝthffull men of þe mydill age.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)427 : To ȝoke Oxen: iugare…copulare.
- a1500 *Medulla (Cnt D.2)17a/a : Biiugus: A beste yoked with a nother.
- c1500 Lady of pite (Trin-C R.3.19)44 : Mastresse, as for my part, let þe world wag; I woll nat be yokyd but I coude draw.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)902 : Ȝynerly the ȝepe knight ȝokit hom belyue, Pight hom into ploghe.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1836 : He tok a plowh…Wherinne anon in stede of Oxes He let do yoken grete foxes.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)10a/a : Bigiuus [?read Biiugus]: an hors ȝoked in wayne [Hrl 1738: Ȝokkyd in the wagun].
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)78/35 : We tille na lande…ne ȝokes noþer ox ne horse in plughe ne in carte.
- a1450 I wole be mendid (Dgb 102)71 : In byleue of holychirche who wyl hym ȝoken, Aȝen þis, non argument may make.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)211/20 : Þe bulles mekely stodyn styll, tyll þay had ȝeokyn ham yn þe wayne.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prols.Ps.(Bod 959)93 : Þe arke…he putte on in a newe ȝokid carte & broȝte in to ierusalem.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)938 : Þer wes muchel folc at þere wrastlinge; Heo ȝeokeden [Otho: ȝogede] heora earmes & ȝarweden heom-seoluan.
2.
(a) To bind (oneself to vice, a way of life, etc.);
(b) glossing L inartare: ?to fasten or fix (sth. onto sth. else).
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.170 : Yȝoket ich am of ȝore Wiþ last and luþer lore, And sunne me haþ biset.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)104/14 : ‘Takeþ on ȝou my ȝok’, þat is, þat we ȝoke us wiþ þe ȝok of loue of God and…turninge upward to heuene oure erþliche loue, þat bifore was dounward.
b
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)34a(1)/b : Inarto: to ȝoke [Pep: to yok; Hrl 2257: to make narowe].
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)589/19 : Inarto: to yoke.