what is a yoke

A yoke is a wooden beam used between a pair of oxen or other animals to enable them to pull together on a load when working in pairs, as oxen usually do. Some yokes are fitted to individual animals, and there are several types of yoke used in different cultures and for different types of oxen. The word "yoke" is believed to derive from Proto-Indo-European *yugóm (yoke), from root *yewg- (join, unite), and is thus cognate with yoga. Yoke is also a verb, as in "to yoke a pair of oxen". In the Bible, yoke is used metaphorically for subjection, and Jesus used it in his teachings, saying "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". In aeronautics, a yoke is a device used for piloting some fixed-wing aircraft. The pilot uses the yoke to control the attitude of the plane, usually in conjunction with pedals that control the rudder).