yolk

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English yolke, yelke, ȝolke, ȝelke, from Old English ġeolca, ġeoloca, ġioleca (“the yellow part, yolk”), from ġeolu (“yellow”).

Pronunciation

Noun

yolk (countable and uncountable, plural yolks)

yolk of an egg
  1. The yellow, spherical part of an egg that is surrounded by the white albumen, and serves as nutriment for the growing young.
    To make meringue, you have to separate the white from the yolk.
  2. The grease in a sheep's fleece.
    • 1846, The Cultivator (page 270)
      Wool-growers appear to entertain different opinions in regard to the effect which yolk has on the value of the fleece. Some seem to suppose that the aggregate amount which they receive for their wool is increased from the greater weight which it possesses by being charged with this substance […]

Translations

Further reading

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