Sterling Strainer

A yolk is the inside of an egg.

A pole to carry buckets is a YOKE.

But yeah the point of yokes was to stop the buckets swinging in your arms and tugging on them. Carrying them on the yoke was more comfortable, and you could carry more, further. Also, being able to balance the yoke meant that you stopped the buckets swinging around and spilling their stuff all over the place.

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Not to be confused with a BINDLE, which is the pole and spotted cloth thing that tramps carry on their backs.

 

Yes, I was a little confused at first, imagination working overtime. Soft boiled, hard boiled....
Was even thinking of an egg-and-spoon race using Dutch silver tea strainers instead of spoons. The eggs would be more stable that way, etc etc.
Or this:

But you wouldn't be carrying anything on the yolk....