Plain English Meaning

The wheel-shaped control in front of the pilot that is used to roll the airplane left or right and to raise or lower the nose.

Full Definition

The primary flight control in many airplanes used to operate the ailerons and elevator. Turning the yoke left or right banks the airplane by deflecting the ailerons; pushing or pulling the yoke pitches the nose down or up by deflecting the elevator.

Context Anchor

Seen in cockpit and flight-control discussions, especially when describing how the pilot uses the primary flight controls.

Derivation

From Old English 'geoc', the wooden crosspiece placed on the necks of two oxen so they could pull together. The aviation yoke borrows the shape and the idea of a two-handed crossbar used to steer something larger than yourself.