also ox-bow, early 14c., ox-boue, "bow-shaped wooden collar for an ox," from ox + bow (n.1). Meaning "semicircular bend in a river" is from 1797, American English (New England), so called from the resemblance of the shape. The meaning "curved lake left after an oxbow meander has been cut off by a change in the river course" is from 1898.

1849, a conflation of Oxford and Cambridge, used in reference to the characteristics common to the two universities. Camford also has been used.

plural of ox, it is the only true continuous survival in Modern English of the Old English weak plural (see -en (1)). OED reports oxes occurs 14c.-16c., "but has not survived."

1963, short for Oxford Committee for Famine Relief.

university town in England, Middle English Oxforde, from Old English Oxnaforda (10c.) literally "where the oxen ford" (see ox + ford (n.)). In reference to a type of shoe laced over the instep, it is attested from 1721 (Oxford-cut shoes). In reference to an accent supposedly characteristic of members of the university, by 1855. Related: Oxfordian; Oxfordish; Oxfordist; Oxfordy.

Oxford comma for "serial comma" (the second in A, B, and C) is attested by 1990s, from its being used by Oxford University Press or its recommendation by Henry W. Fowler, long associated with Oxford University, in his influential and authoritative book on English usage (1926) in which he writes "there is no agreement at present on the punctuation," but adds that the omission of the serial comma "often leaves readers helpless against ambiguity."

"an oxidizing agent," 1859, from French oxidant (1806), from oxider "oxidize" (see oxidation).

"act or process of combining or causing to combine with oxygen," 1791, from French oxidation (1787), coined by French chemists Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau and Antoine Lavoisier, noun of action from oxider "oxidize," from oxide (see oxide).

"compound of oxygen with another element," 1790, from French oxide (1787), coined by French chemists Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau and Antoine Lavoisier from ox(ygène) (see oxygen) + (ac)ide "acid" (see acid (n.)).

1802 "cause to combine with oxygen" (implied in oxidizable); by 1803 in the intransitive sense of "combine with oxygen;" from oxide + -ize. Related: Oxidized; oxidizing; oxidization.

"that which oxidizes," 1875, agent noun from oxidize.