A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Ȝok(e, Yoke, Ȝoik, Yolk(e, n.2 [ME and e.m.E. ȝeolke (c1290), ȝolke (Trevisa), yolke (1486), yolk (1695), OE ᵹeolca.] a. The yolk of an egg. b. fig. The core or substance of something. —a. c1580-90 Rules of Health.
Lat all ȝour … meittis be of gude nureisment, lychtt, tender and esy of digestioun. As the soft ȝoikis of eggis rasingis of all sortis 1606 Crim. Trials II 505.
Sum young menne … begane to mok this Ringan, be steilling out of his suord, and putting ȝokis of egis in the skabert, quhairby the samin wald not draw —b. a1568 Bann. MS 223b/11.
Quhat windir is my hairt be granit thrwcht Fro out the rute rewthles ȝe haif it revin Ȝe haif the ȝok with me remains the slwche 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 199.
Wo is me … that I find no way to spend my love desires, and the yolk of my heart upon that fairest and dearest one 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 443.
Christ hath the yoke [v.r. yolke] and heart of my love
