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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XII).
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Ȝok(e, Ȝock(e, n.¹ Also: yok(e, yhok(e, yock(e, yoak(e, ȝooke, yook, youk, ȝoik, yioke, yolk, ȝoilk, ȝak. [ME and e.m.E. ȝoc (c1200), ȝocc (Orm), yock (Cursor M.), ȝoke (a1340), ȝo(c)k, ȝook (all Wyclif), yok (1403), youkke (1475), yoke (1555), yoake (Shakespeare), OE ᵹeoc, MLG yuk, MDu. juc, joc, ON ok.]

1. A yoke for animals drawing a plough, etc. Also comb. b. fig. Applied to the common effort required to achieve something or seen as something constricting or controlling. Cf. 6 below.(a) c1420 Wynt. i 1615.
He gert bestys wndir yhoke [C. ȝok, W. ȝoke] Thole brodys sare, and mony a knoke 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 514.
The wark of the castell of Edinburg … vj dosane of yokis, ilk yoke vj d. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 144/112.
And lat no bowgle … The meik pluch ox oppress, for all his pryd, Bot in the ȝok go peciable him besyd 1513 Doug. vii x 92.
He dryvis furth the stampand hors on raw Onto the ȝok [Ruddim. ȝoik] the chareottis to draw 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 88.
Sweyes, sowmes, ȝokes, oxin bowes and other necessarres for the said artalȝere, in every cairt foure hors, summa xl hors 1561 Inverness Rec. I 59.
The sade Thomas hes crewkit my horse in yokis, quhar throw he may nocht gang ane fyt 1567 Bamff Chart. 71.
The pleugh with the yokis, furnessing, cutir, sok and somes … xxx s. 1591 Edinb. Test. XXIII 225b.
Tua laid of pleuch ȝokis price of the laid xiij s. iiij d. 1626 Garden Worthies 10.
Thy dreadfull dints made many Dain to die … Great gallant there, thow with thy youths & yoke, Most nottablie nobilitat thy stock 1632 Cullen B. Ct. 9 March.
Johne Ogiluye … confessit the borrowing of ane furnissit pleuche and yrnes, ȝokis and hir pertinentis fra Watter Boyne(b) 1478–9 Acta Aud. 82/1.
[They] sall … paye … for … a pluch schod xxx d. tua new grathit ȝokkis ii s. 1516 Fam. Rose 189.
Yokkis 1523 Treas. Acc. V 231.
Out of auld Johnne Smithis forge … lx ȝokkis weill landit and ryngit with stapillis 1531 Yester Wr. 148.
Patrik Amwligin and his complices … cuttit the soumes ȝokkis and bemyis and graith of his said ploughs 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 360.
For the cariage of xlv draucht of byrk fra the wod of Dalhoussy to the castell of Edinburght to mak ȝokkis of and to be fyre wod to melt the mettale witht … xx li. v s. 1548 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) Ridheid v. Leslie.
Tua kiplingis of ȝokkis of irne price of thame vj s. 1680 Brechin Test. VII 36b.
Ane pleugh 4 soames iiij yockis … tuo thetts and other materiallis belonging to the pleugh(c) c1500-50 Pleuch-Song in Tools & Tillage I iii 178/1.
All that belongs to the pleugh … The chock, the yoak, the ring, the sling 1663 Edinb. Test. LXXI 173.
Ane pleughe with soames & yoaks(d) 1628 Edinb. Test. LIV 306b.
Ane plenischit pleuche with somes & ȝooke(e) 1530 Wigtown B. Ct. 230 b.
Ane blanket a ȝak a coyt tua barrellis & sertane bovrddiscomb. 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 519.
To ane smyth in Dalkeith that mendit ij greit boltis, four slyngis, and yokegeir, v s.b. 1533 Bell. Livy II 143/21.
The patricianis beand viij iunyt togiddir vnder ane ȝoik [L. octoiuges] pasis to obtene the empire 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xli 68.
This day thy heid is in the ȝock. God send the blyithnes of this block And freith thé from thy fais aboue thé 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. ii 28.
The blindit god arywed, His bow bent in his hand ready to nocke: Bot quhill he aim'd, of power quyte deprywed, Himself he band in his awin flattring ȝocke 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 162.
I think it necessar that all bands and yockes be tane off this Kirk, that all that are of the ministry may find and acknowledge their libertie 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 285.
O then! put in your necks under the yoke and lend a lift 1674 Laing MSS 396.
They are all crying for a generall convocatione of the clergie upone no other accompt bot to shake of our yock and break our bands asunder

2. transf. A pair of animals coupled by a yoke.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xliv 253.
Fyfty ȝok of oxine c1420 Wynt. vi 1968, 1970.
A yhok off oxyn Makbeth saw fayle, Than speryt … quha that awcht The yhoke that faylyd in that drawcht c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xiv 19.
Five yokkis of oxin 1567 Bamff Chart. 71.
Ane yok of drawand oxin 1572 Inverness Rec. I 214.
Quhilk oxe … brak his crag in the pleucht … in the calling of ane wther yok of oxin on his bak of forse 1574 Edinb. Test. III 193b.
To William Ker ane ȝok viz. tua oxin 1584 Edinb. Test. XIII 147.
I leue … to my eldest sone … ane ȝok of the best oxin 1645 Galloway P. 26 July.
The said lord setis to thame with the saids lands twa yock of oxin with ane pleuche & pleuch grathe 1670 Cramond Cullen Ann. 53.
The whole horses off the toune wer ordayned to give ane yok and to led stones and clay to the tolbooth(b) 1548 Corr. M. Lorraine 245.
I caussit begin and yolk of my awin oxin xiiij^xx and caussit draw the arttalȝery throw my boundis

3. A wooden frame fitted on the neck of an animal to stop it breaking through a fence, etc. 1512 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 16.
Geiff sa beis that Roben Ker … fand Adam Wolkesones swyn doand him scath the said Adam sal mak acht quhat he hes scathis him and gef the said Adam Wolkesone swyn had na yokis [MS ȝokis]

4. A measure of land, ? the amount that can be ploughed during one spell of work by a single yoke (sense 2 above) of draught animals. Cf. Ȝoking vbl. n. 3. 1516 Wigtown B. Ct. 58a.
Symon Cawen occupeit ane ȝok of the landis of Clachare 1686 Galloway P. 8 April.
Halfe a pleugh stilt of the land of Polton of quhich pleugh stilt he is in posesione of [gap in text] yook land alredie

5. A yoke placed over the neck of a defeated enemy in ancient times. Also, of a vanquished protagonist, to depart, pas under (that) ȝoik, to pass under an arrangement of spears to symbolise defeat, see quots. in (1).(1) 1533 Bell. Livy I 284/33, 34.
He wald nocht be desirus of thare … slauchter, bot wald suffir thame to departe vnder ȝoik, to mak it knawin thai war subdewit. This ȝoik was made of thre speris, of quhilkis twa war dentit in the erde, and the thrid laid thortoure thare hedis 1549 Compl. 102/18, 22.
The cruel Samnetes ordand the instrument of the ȝoik of this sort … Ther vas tua speyris set fast in the eyrd, and ane vthir speyr set & bundyn athort betuix the tua speyris that stude vp fra the eyrd lyik ane gallus. Than the desolat and vencust Romans var constrenȝet to pas vndir that ȝoik ane and ane(2) 1549 Compl. 101/32.
Ve sal put ȝour cragis in ane ȝoik to be ane perpetual takyn that ȝe ar vencust be vs 1549 Compl. 102/9.
In ald tymes ther culd nocht be ane gritar defame nor quhen ane mannis crag vas put in the ȝoik be his enemye

6. fig.a. Denoting subjection, oppression, etc. imposed by a conqueror, tyrant, superior, etc. Freq. const. of the oppressor, also of the oppression or with the oppressor or oppression indicated adjectivally. Also without construction. b. Of a burden implying oppression, servitude, etc. Also with lesser implications of duty or self-imposed task, burden, etc. c. With reference to submission to or acceptance of faith in God or Christ or the duties or burdens imposed by this. d. With reference to marriage.a. (1) c1420 Wynt. vi 2052.
Makbeth … Trowe thowe welle and dowt rycht nowcht … He sall thé set in tyll gret payne, Syne thow wald hawe put hys neke In till thi yhoke 1564 St. A. Kirk S. 198.
Seing it hes pleased … God, of his meir mercy, to deliver and reduce us furth of the bondage and yok of Antecrist 1569–70 Knox VI 569.
Thou delivered us from the tyrannie of mercieless strangers, … the bondage of idolatry, and … the yoak of that wretched woman 1570 Bann. Trans. 7.
Scho … delivered … that realme … from the yock of forrane forces 1596 Dalr. I 155/12.
He … culde nocht abyde to beir the Romane ȝok c1610 Melville Mem. 9.
The offers maid be Onell, Odonell, Odocart and Caloch, willing to cast aff the yok of England and becom subiect to the King of France, provyding that he wald procure the Paipes gift of Yreland 1682 Irvine Nomenclatura 218.
[The] Silures … were a warlick people … and opposed stoutly the Roman yock 1689 Old Ross-shire II 22.
An unsupportable popish yock from which God in His infinite mercy … hath this far delyvered us(2) 1533 Boece 131b.
That be his fortificacioun, Britons abiecting the servile ȝoik, Romanis suld be contrinit with dishonour to leif Britons at liberte 1533 Boece 141a.
Sua had the Romane armye bene discumfist and the ȝoik of thirllage removit … gif the providence of Petilius had nocht haistelie occurit 1533 Bell. Livy II 103/4.
The ȝoik of seruitude 1562-3 Winȝet I 29/18.
Sall the haill peple of God heir for of al aiges, in the libertie of the Euangel, haif les libertie in the lyke materis than had the Jowis vnder the ȝok of the Mosaical law? 1563 Ferg. Tracts 14.
After that she had shaken of the yock of lawfull obedience to kings and empreours a1585 Maitl. Q. 279/6.
O Deith … Quhat is the cause nane may thair nek From thy tyrannical and inamiable ȝok 1591 Conv. Burghs I 367.
Johne Alexander submittis him under the yok of oppressioun 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. i 23b.
Gif anie bond-man hes dwelt … vpon anie mans land … [for] seaven ȝeares … he sall be frie fra the ȝock of servitude 1615 Crim. Trials III 294.
The poor ones vnder the yock of servitude and slaverie 1639 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 193.
Let us all labour, since we are fried of many yockes of bondage 1687 Fugitive Poetry II xl 4/94.
Great Sir, we thank you, prelacy is gone Under that yoak our land did sadly groan(b) 1600 Conv. Burghs III 506.
Wee … groaning wndir thir present pressouris and the youk of vsurpatione(3) c1420 Wynt. v 1274.
Adriane … Twenty and a yhere empryoure … the Jowys … held ay Wndyr yhok [W. In subiectioun] till his end-day 1549 Compl. 102/35.
This defame and vile punitione of the Samnites perpetrat contrar the Romans vas verray cruel bot doubtles thai that ar participant of the cruel inuasione of Inglis men contrar their natyue cuntreye, ther craggis sal be put in ane mair strait ȝoik nor the Samnetes did to the Romans as King Eduard did til Scottis men at the blac parlament … quhen he gart put the craggis of sexten scoir in faldomis of cordis, tua and tua ouer ane balk c1590 Fowler I 110/180.
By thair art in planting peace or skill in hardie fight Or doubtfull yok in hard combatt 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 152.
There should arise a knight Sprung of the bloodie yoak, who should of right Possesse these landsb. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 193.
In lufis ȝok, that esy is and sure 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1411.
To discriue this mater … Impossibill war till ony eirdlie wicht. It transcendis far abone my micht That I with ink may do bot paper blek. I mon draw furth, the ȝok lyis on my nek, As of the place to say my leude auise 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 150.
To write … I hynt a pen in hand … And wolx ennoyt sum deill … Thar restit oncompletit sa gret a part. And to my self I said: ‘In gud effect Thou mon draw furth the ȝok lyis on thy nek' 1567 G. Ball. 101.
Thair is na ȝock thir wickit men may oppres … Quhen vther men ar trublit and disesit, With all pastyme full plesandlie thay ar easit 1568 Haddington Corr. 273.
That our puir pepill may be exonorat of thair yock in our absens 1594 Misc. Bann. C. III 167.
Hee wan the favour of manie that wer sair faschit of their heuie ȝocke & burding 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 470.
By delayes his enimies will bee encuraged and strengthened, and the people be forced to coutch under thair burthenes and submitt to thair yoke, despaireing of any meanes of release or deliverance 1650 Fugitive Poetry II xxiv 8/15.
Poore people … Shake of thy yoak, and grone no more In slavery 1653 Binning Wks. 586.
I have undertaken your yoke and burden, why then do you laden yourselves any more with the apprehension of it?c. a1400 Leg. S. xxvii 812.
A mane … Relygiouse & rycht haly … That Godis ȝok bare on his nek c1520-c1535 NisbetI 7.
Lufinglie exhortis menn to tak his yok vpounn thame 1549 Compl. 31/13.
Al them that hes resauit the ȝoilk ande the confessione of Crist 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 299.
Ȝe suld not … promoue thame To that most gret and wechty cure, Except ȝe vnderstude … Thame apt and ganand for the ȝok, For to instruct the Christin flok a1561 Norvell Meroure 26b.
His death vs broght on liue agane, And shewes to vs the yock that we should drawe, The word of God the which doeth planelie shawe 1562-3 Winȝet II 4/14.
That the principalis of the peple put nocht thair craigis in ȝok to the werk of the Lord 1563 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 243.
Quhy tempt ȝe God to lay ane ȝok on the disciples neckis? And thir last wordis is rehearsit againe, in the decrete of the Haly Spirit, put in writ be the councell, placing this worde burdene for ȝok, quhilk signifeis heir baith ane thing 1573 Davidson in Sat. P. xl 350.
Quhilk tred of doctrine gif ȝe anis begin, [etc.] … The ȝock is not sa licht as sum dois ges 1602 Three Reformers 164.
This battell is that yoake and croce of Christ that we must take on 1650 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 620.
The snare wherewith loose hearts, who cannot endure Christs yock, are most readily takend. c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 79.
Quhen I gottin had ane grome ganest of uther Ȝaip and ȝing, in the ȝok ane ȝeir for to draw 1513 Doug. iv vi 118.
For I pretendit nevir … With ȝou to mak the band of mariage, Nor in that ȝok, ne frendschip in Cartage 1613 Haddington Corr. 120.
I am glaid … that yie haue tane sa weill with the yioke [of marriage] that yie haue stayed yiour iornay till the nixt oulke be ordonance off heighar powars 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 100.
Where fayling of Church rites, this yoke they draw That lawles loue may be made loueles law 1650 Carstairs Lett. 66.
To bring about that which … our first looking towards this yocke [sc. marriage] did promise