oxbow

[ oks-boh ]

noun

1. a U -shaped piece of wood placed under and around the neck of an ox with its upper ends in the bar of the yoke.
2. Physical Geography, Geology.
   1. a bow-shaped bend in a river, or the land embraced by it.
   2. Also called oxbow lake. a bow-shaped lake formed in a former channel of a river.

oxbow

/ ˈɒksˌbəʊ /

noun

1. a U-shaped piece of wood fitted under and around the neck of a harnessed ox and attached to the yoke
2. Also calledoxbow lakecutoff a small curved lake lying on the flood plain of a river and constituting the remnant of a former meander

oxbow

/ ŏks′bō′ /

1. A sharp, U-shaped bend in a river. The bend is so sharp that only a narrow neck of land is left between the two parts of the river.

Word History and Origins

Origin of oxbow¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; ox, bow ²

Example Sentences

During the year she spent in the great school, she made but one visit to Oxbow Village.

From Project Gutenberg

But just now they were all more interested in the people they found here at the Oxbow Bend and in what they were doing.

From Project Gutenberg

The smallest Bunker really had succeeded in getting everybody at Oxbow Bend very much stirred up.

From Project Gutenberg

The whole party at the Oxbow Bend was roused by this time, and men, women and children were looking for the little lost boy.

From Project Gutenberg

The chain is passed through the large iron ring in the oxbow and is doubled back to get the right length.

From Project Gutenberg