unyoke

American  

[uhn-yohk] / ʌnˈjoʊk /

verb (used with object)

unyoked, unyoking

1. to free from or as if from a yoke.

2. to part or disjoin, as by removing a yoke.

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verb (used without object)

Obsolete.

unyoked, unyoking

1. to remove a yoke.

2. to cease work.

unyoke British  

/ ʌnˈjəʊk /

verb

1. to release (an animal, etc) from a yoke

2. (tr) to set free; liberate

3. (tr) to disconnect or separate

4. archaic (intr) to cease working

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Etymology

Origin of unyoke

before 1000; Middle English unyoken, Old English ungeocian. See un- ², yoke ¹

Example Sentences

"They have smelt the water; it is not far off, sir," said Bremen; "we had better unyoke them all, and let them go."

From The Mission by Marryat, Frederick

Thou who keep'st us chaste and free As the young spring: Ever be thy honour spoke, From that place the morn is broke, To that place day doth unyoke!

From English Songs and Ballads by Crosland, T. W. H. (Thomas William Hodgson)

"He loitered not," wrote Daniel, "but left me, the driver of his team, to unyoke it in the furrow, and not many days after to follow him to camp."

From Captains of Industry or, Men of Business Who Did Something Besides Making Money by Parton, James

In crossing large streams, we unyoke the oxen and swim them over.

From Forest Life and Forest Trees: comprising winter camp-life among the loggers, and wild-wood adventure. with Descriptions of lumbering operations on the various rivers of Maine and New Brunswick by Springer, John S.

But I must go home at all events, you know, sir, to unyoke my two horses, and put them up, and to inform Chirsty Halliday, my wife, of my engagement.

From The Shepherd's Calendar Volume I (of II) by Hogg, James