rood n : representation of the cross on which Jesus died [syn: crucifix, rood-tree]

English

Etymology

From rod.

Pronunciation

• /ru:d/

Noun

1. A crucifix.
   • act III scene 4

     Have you forgot me?

     No, by the rood, not so.

2. A measure of land area, equal to a quarter of an acre.

Synonyms

• sense quarter of an acre farthingdale

Derived terms

• rood screen

Dutch

Pronunciation

• /rot/

Adjective

1. red

Volapük

Noun

rood

1. category

"rood" is also the Dutch word for "red".

Rood has several distinct meanings, all derived from the same basic etymology.

"Rood" is an archaic word for "pole", from Anglo-Saxon rōd "pole", specifically "crucifix", from Proto-Germanic *rodo, cognate to Old Saxon rōda, Old High German ruoda "rod"; the relation of rood to rod, from Anglo-Saxon rodd "pole" is unclear; the latter was perhaps influenced by Old Norse rudda "club").

Measurement of area or length

Specifically, rood is an Old English unit of area, equal to quarter of an acre, i.e. 10 890 square feet or 1011.7141056 m² (for the international inch) or about 10.1 are. A rectangular area with edges of one furlong and one rod respectively is one rood, as is an area consisting of 40 perches (square rods.) It is confusingly called an acre in some ancient contexts. The rood is an important measure in surveying on account of its easy conversion with the acre. Rood also refers to a British unit of linear measure between 16.5 and 24 feet. It is related to the German rute (12.36 to 12.47 feet) and Denmark's rode (12.34 feet)

References

• Pevsner, Nikolaus, The Buildings of England: Oxfordshire, Penguin Books (original series, 1951–1974)
• Extract from Jacqueline Simpson and Steve Roud, A Dictionary of English Folklore, Oxford University Press, 2000
• Hole, Christina, A Dictionary of British Folk Customs, Granada/Paladin 1978
• St. Mary's, Charlton-on-Otmoor (from acny.org.uk, accessed 07:10, 04 November 2007 (UTC) )
• Hubberholme Church, Yorkshire. Rood loft dated 1558 Possibly the oldest in England.

See also

• Holy Rood Catholic Church
• Rood (Scots)
• Rod (unit) for the "rod, pole or perch" unit of measurement

Agnus Dei, Calvary cross, Christogram, Greek cross, Holy Grail, Host, Jerusalem cross, Latin cross, Maltese cross, Pieta, Russian cross, Sanctus bell, Sangraal, T, X, ankh, ark, asperger, asperges, aspergillum, avellan cross, bambino, beadroll, beads, candle, censer, chaplet, chi, chi-rho, christcross, ciborium, crisscross, cross, cross ancre, cross botonee, cross bourdonee, cross fitche, cross fleury, cross formee, cross fourchee, cross grignolee, cross moline, cross of Cleves, cross of Lorraine, cross patee, cross recercelee, cross-crosslet, crossbones, crosslet, crucifix, cruciform, cruet, crux, crux ansata, crux capitata, crux decussata, crux gammata, crux immissa, crux ordinaria, dagger, eucharistial, ex, exing, fork cross, gammadion, holy cross, holy water, holy-water sprinkler, icon, incensory, inverted cross, long cross, matzo, menorah, mezuzah, mikvah, monstrance, osculatory, ostensorium, papal cross, paschal candle, pax, pectoral cross, phylacteries, potent cross, prayer shawl, prayer wheel, pyx, relics, rosary, sacramental, sacred relics, sacring bell, saltire, shofar, sukkah, swastika, tabernacle, tallith, tau, thurible, trefled cross, urceole, veronica, vigil light, voided cross, votive candle