E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Yo’ke (1 syl.).
Greek zugon, Latin jugum, French joug, Dutch juk, German joch, Anglo-Saxon geoc (pron. yoc).
1
To pass under the yoke. To suffer the disgrace of a vanquished army. The Romans made a yoke of three spears—two upright and one resting on them. When an army was vanquished, the soldiers had to lay down their arms and pass under this archway of spears.
