The one on the far side; the one of less use.
1807. We behold a clumsy, awkward off ox trying the tricks of a kitten.—The Balance, Aug. 25, p. 267: from the N.Y. Evening Post.
1827. A pair of oxen now grown so much alike that no one can tell which is the off ox.—Mass. Spy, July 25.
1848.
| Ez to the answerin’ o’ questions, | |
| I ’m an off ox at bein druv. | |
Lowell, ‘Biglow Papers,’ No. 7. |
1862. Trying to make a nigger act like a white man is jest like old Sol Hopkins, one year harnessing his off ox an his hoss together to plow corn.—Seba Smith, ‘Letters of Major Jack Downing,’ April 29.
