Yoke

From Freepedia

For the aircraft control, see Yoke (aircraft). Yokes should not to be confused with egg yolk.

Agriculture

A yoke is a shaped wooden crosspiece bound to the necks of a pair of oxen, occasionally horses. It is held on the animal's neck by a usually U-shaped oxbow that also transmits force from the animal's shoulders. A swivel beneath the centre of the yoke, between the animals, attaches the pole of the vehicle (when the animals steer the vehicle) or chains that are used to drag the load.

Drinks packaging

The plastic six-pack rings used to hold together drinks cans, usually containing beer, are referred to in the industry as yokes. [1] [2]

Irish slang

In Ireland, 'yoke' is an all encompassing slang for many different things. The books of Roddy Doyle contain many excellent examples of this.

1. Thing/object, usually substituted for 'yoke' when one can't think of the name of the object. "Pass me that yoke" - "Pass me that thing".

2. Person, somewhat derogatory. "He's an awful yoke" - "He's an awful person". The most common phrase used in personal description with the word 'yoke' is describing someone who engages in erratic or crazy behaviour. That person is then described as "a mad yoke".

3. Ecstacy. Pills of the drug ecstasy or 'e' are referred to as 'yokes'. A frequent phrase heard in a club in Ireland would be "got any yokes?" - "do you have any ecstasy?"