ox

Definition

An adult castrated male of cattle (B. taurus), especially when used as a beast of burden.

Etymology

From Middle English oxe, from Old English oxa, from Proto-West Germanic *ohsō, from Proto-Germanic *uhsô (compare West Frisian okse, Dutch os, German Ochse), from Proto-Indo-European *uksḗn. Cognate with Welsh ych (“ox”), Tocharian A ops, Tocharian B okso (“draft-ox”), Avestan 𐬎𐬑𐬱𐬀𐬥 (uxšan, “bull”), Sanskrit उक्षन् (ukṣán).

Example Sentences

• "Here the same four kinds are mentioned ... These are sheep, goats, camels and oxen."