Main Entry: yolk

Pronunciation: \ˈyōk, ˈyelk (in cultivated speech, especially Southern), also ˈyōlk, ˈyȯlk, ˈyälk, ˈyəlk\

Variant(s): also yoke \ˈyōk\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English yolke, from Old English geoloca, from geolu yellow — more at yellow

Date: before 12th century

1 a : the yellow spheroidal mass of stored food that forms the inner portion of the egg of a bird or reptile and is surrounded by the white — see egg illustration b archaic : the whole contents of an animal ovum consisting of a protoplasmic formative portion and an inert nutritive portion c : material stored in an animal ovum that supplies food to the developing embryo and consists chiefly of proteins, lecithin, and cholesterol
2 [akin to Middle Dutch ieke yolk (of wool), Old English ēowu ewe] : oily material in unprocessed sheep wool consisting of wool fat, suint, and debris

— yolked adjective

— yolky adjective