Joug

A joug is a wooden crosspiece used to couple two draft animals, typically oxen, so that they can pull a plow, cart, or other load. In English, the term joug is largely archaic or regional, and the more common word today is yoke. The concept originates from the Old French joug, which itself comes from the Latin jugum, meaning a pair or a crossbar.

A typical joug distributes the pulling force across the animals’ necks and shoulders, allowing them to work together as a team. Designs vary by period and region, ranging from simple curved bow yokes to more elaborate harness systems that reduce chafing and adapt to different work tasks. The size and shape of a joug are chosen to suit the strength and size of the animals, as well as the load to be drawn.

Historically, jougs were central to agricultural economies in many cultures and were a common sight in farming communities before mechanization. While modern farming often uses alternative harnesses or powered equipment, traditional yokes remain in use in some regions and in historical demonstrations.

In addition to its agricultural meaning, the word joug or jougs can refer to iron collars or yokes used as a punishment device in medieval Europe, designed to restrain a person by the neck and sometimes attached to a chain or post for public display.

See also: Yoke, Oxen, Harness, Plowing.