or YOKE, in agriculture, a frame of wood, fitted over the necks of oxen, whereby they are coupled together, and harnessed to the plough.

Yoak of land in our ancient customs, was the space which a yoke of oxen, that is, two oxen, may plow in one day.

Sea Yoak. When the sea is so rough that the helm cannot be governed by the hands, the seamen make a yoak to steer by; that is, they fix two blocks to the end of the helm, and reeving two (small) ropes through them, which they call falls, by having some men at each tackle, they govern the helm by direction. They have another way of making a sea yoak, by taking a double turn about the end of the helm with a single rope, the ends being laid to the ship's sides, by means whereof they guide the helm.