oxbow

1. A U-shaped piece of wood that fits under and around the neck of an ox, with its upper ends attached to the bar of the yoke.
2. 1. A U-shaped bend in a river.
   2. The land within such a bend of a river.

The noun has 3 meanings:

Meaning #1: the land inside an oxbow bend in a river

Meaning #2: a U-shaped curve in a stream

Meaning #3: a wooden framework bent in the shape of a U; its upper ends are attached to the horizontal yoke and the loop goes around the neck of an ox

For other uses, see Oxbow (disambiguation).

A wooden ox (bullock) yoke, bows and chain as used by a pair of bullocks or oxen in a team.

An oxbow is a U-shaped metal frame that fits under and around the neck of an ox or bullock, with its upper ends passing through the bar of the yoke and held in place with a metal key. A ring is attached via a plate to the centre underside of the yoke, to enable a pair of bullocks to be chained to other pairs in a team and thence hitched to the load.

When rivers meander and are sometimes cut off from their course, they form an oxbow lake which is so named because of the distinct "U" shape.

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