yoke, yolk

A yolk is the yellow centre of an egg.

• Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, but egg whites are not.

A yoke is a frame or harness that fits over the shoulders to support weight or that connects two animals pulling a plow.

• Julie positioned the canoe yoke on her shoulders before she portaged through the bush.

Yoke also applies to the animals themselves and the action of harnessing.

• A yoke of oxen worked the fields.
• The farmer yoked the oxen before setting out to work the fields.

By extension, yoke refers to servitude.

• Rebel against the yoke of tyranny!

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TERMIUM Plus^®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
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