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Definition of oxbow

oxbow

/ˈɑːks.boʊ/
ox · bow
Plural:oxbows
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oxbow Lexical Profile

oxbow Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A pronounced U-shaped meander or bend in a river or stream, or the crescent-shaped lake formed when such a meander is cut off from the main channel.

Example

"During the geography field trip, the students observed how sediment deposition gradually severed the river's bend to form an isolated oxbow."

2

A piece of wood bent into a U-shape that fits snugly around the neck of a draft ox and attaches securely to the yoke.

Example

"The museum displayed an antique wooden yoke complete with the original hand-carved oxbows used for driving pioneer cattle."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for oxbow

• Nearby Words

oxalis
oxararfoss
oxblood
oxbow
oxbow falls
oxcart
oxeye daisy

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from Middle English 'oxebowe', a compound of 'ox' and 'bow'. It originally referred exclusively to the U-shaped wooden collar of an ox yoke, but the term was later applied to sharply curving river bends and lakes due to their distinct visual similarity.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Oxbow. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/oxbow
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