Meanings
- pluralplural of ox
- not comparableOf, relating to, or resembling an ox; oxlike
Kvigr walked the oxen cart between the huts. There were many markings on each of the huts.
2015, Christian Bullock, Deathstalker: Of the Line of Mer3 more examples
These included the adze, saws of different sizes with, very likely, different size teeth or cutting edges, axe, chisels of various sizes, drills with various size drill bits, a square, plumb line, hammer, maul, and awl, plus a sharpening stone of slate and an oxen horn used as an oil flask.
2010, Gayle A. McCoy, GOD’S GOLDEN BOX: The Ark of the Covenant - Page 100He also had a tail like an oxen tail only with a razor sharp bard that he used in conflict to stab or slice his victims.
2013, Michael Wayne Snider, Memoirs of a Dragon Slayer - Page 22He took a great gulp of wine from an oxen horn goblet and with a sigh slammed it down on the conference table. “Warriors!” he bellowed, gazing about as if daring anyone to challenge him.
2015, Amulon Theophilus, Elomaneck: Duraban Rebels
Synonyms & antonyms
noundomesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*uksḗn
- Proto-Germanic*uhsô
- Proto-West Germanic*ohsō
- Old Englishoxa
- Old Englishoxan
- Middle Englishoxen
- Englishoxen
From Middle English oxen, from Old English oxan, from Proto-West Germanic *ohsan, from Proto-Germanic *uhsniz, nominative and accusative plural of *uhsô (“ox”), equivalent to ox + -en (plural ending).
More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
oxen. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxen
“oxen.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxen. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oxen,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxen.
Source: oxen on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.