Meanings
plural oxgangs
- historicalThe area of land that could be plowed by an ox in a year, ¹⁄₈ hide or carucate and notionally 15 acres.
1417. Henry Rishworth formerly held two oxgangs in Hipperholme, Osbarn rode, lands in Coley, etc. His nephew Henry, son of Nicholas de Rishworth, next heir, paid 10s heriot. 1418. John, son and heir of Henry de Rishworth, herioted a cottage and a royd in the Hey in Hipperholme.
1909, “Appendix II: Rishworth of Coley”, in William Brown, editor, Record Series, volume 39: For the Year 1907: Yorkshire Deeds, Yorkshire Archaeological Society, page 226 - ScotlandhistoricalThe similar Scottish concept, ¹⁄₈ of a ploughgate and notionally 12+¹⁄₂ or 13 Scottish acres.
Synonyms & antonyms
Origin
- Old Englishoxangang“<small>¹<big>⁄</big>₈</small> hide or ploughland”
- Middle Englishoxegang
- Englishoxgang
From Middle English oxegang, from Old English oxangang (“¹⁄₈ hide or ploughland”), equivalent to ox + gang.
More words from Middle English, Old English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Latin bovata
- bovataarea
Cite this entry
oxgang. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxgang
“oxgang.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxgang. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oxgang,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxgang.
Source: oxgang on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.