yoke backn.
/ˌjəʊk ˈbak/, U.S. /ˌjoʊk ˈbæk/ 1. A chair back resembling a yoke (yoke n. 1) in shape, having a curved top rail with protruding ends; (also) the chair itself. Frequently attributive, esp. in yoke-back chair.
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > chair > [noun] > parts of chairs > back > type of
splat1833
yoke back1835
fiddle-back1890
shield1897
comb-back1901
spoon-back1909
1835 Liverpool Mercury 31 July 252/4 The Second Drawing-room contains..a Set of 14 modern Chairs with yoke backs.
1854 Morning Chron. 17 July 1/6 Eighteen yoke back chairs in morocco leather.
1919 House & Garden Jan. 22 (advt.) A Windsor yoke-back of 18th Century make, $65.
1985 M. H. Heckscher & M. Rogers Amer. Furnit. in Metrop. Mus. Art II. iii. 87/1 The unusual splat also appears on a set of yoke-back chairs.
2009 Archit. Digest (Nexis) Jan. 94 A black-lacquered yoke-back chair from 19th-century China.
2. A part of a garment shaped to fit over the back of the shoulders or around the back of the hips. Also: the rear side of a garment featuring such a part. Also attributive, designating a garment of this kind. Cf. yoke n. 6.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > covering spec parts of body > hip
hip1705
yoke1849
yoke piece1868
yoke back1876
hip yoke1878
1871 Harper's Bazar 18 July 459/1 The most popular night-dress is that with a sacque front and double yoke back.]
1876 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Daily Sentinel 17 Aug. 3/2 The ‘shirt’ pattern, with its tucked front and yoke back, is popular for night-dresses.
1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. Spring & Summer 278/3 Men's Overshirts..Gathered yoke back.
1921 Clothing Trade Jrnl. 19 229/1 Many of these overcoats had yoke backs.
1950 Life 4 Dec. 162/1 (advt.) Jacket has pleated front, pleated yoke back.
1992 Courier Mail (Brisbane) (Nexis) 3 Aug. (caption) Hands-on fun in yoke-back shorts ($34) and tartan shirts ($33).
2005 Country Living Apr. (Toast Advt. Suppl.) 6 Really well-fitting, neat capris with a flat yoke, yoke back.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1835