ox

views updated May 21 2018

ox / äks/ • n. (pl. ox·en / ˈäksən/ ) a domesticated bovine animal kept for milk or meat; a cow or bull. See cattle (sense 1). ∎  a castrated male of this, formerly much used as a draft animal: [as adj.] an ox cart. ∎  an animal of a group related to the domestic ox. See cattle (sense 2).

ox

views updated May 21 2018

ox the ox is proverbially a type of strength and fortitude, and of stupidity.
the black ox misfortune, adversity, old age (originally in the traditional saying, the black ox has trod on his foot), recorded from the 16th century.
ox-bone the emblem of St Alphege, who was pelted to death with them by the Danes.
ox-eyed having large dark protuberant eyes like those of an ox; in references to classical literature, a particular epithet of Juno.

ox

views updated May 14 2018

ox pl. oxen bovine animal, esp. castrated male of the domestic species. OE. oxa = OS., OHG. ohso (Du. os, G. ochse), ON. uxi, oxi, Goth. auhsa :- Gmc. *oxsan-, rel. to W. ych, pl. ychen, OIr. oss stag, Skr. ukşán- bull, cattle.

ox

views updated May 23 2018

ox Domesticated cattle of the genus Bos. The term is specifically applied to castrated males used as draught animals. Many varieties of wild cattle are sometimes called wild oxen.

ox

views updated May 29 2018

ox See BOVIDAE.

ox

views updated Jun 11 2018

ox Chem. oxalate ion (used in formulae)