rood

[ rood ]
See synonyms for rood on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a crucifix, especially a large one at the entrance to the choir or chancel of a medieval church, often supported on a rood beam or rood screen.

  2. a cross as used in crucifixion.

  1. a unit of length varying locally from 5½ to 8 yards (5 to 7 meters).

  2. a unit of land measure equal to 40 square rods or ¼ acre (0.10117 hectare).

  3. a unit of 1 square rod (25.29 sq. m).

  4. Archaic. the cross on which Christ died.

Origin of rood

1
before 900; Middle English; Old English rōd pole, crucifix; cognate with German Rute rod, twig

Words Nearby rood

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use rood in a sentence

  • Look, Guta!A crystal clear, and carven on the reverseThe blessed rood.

    The Saint's Tragedy | Charles Kingsley

British Dictionary definitions for rood

rood

/ (ruːd) /


noun
    • a crucifix, esp one set on a beam or screen at the entrance to the chancel of a church

    • (as modifier): rood beam; rood arch; rood screen

  1. the Cross on which Christ was crucified

  1. a unit of area equal to one quarter of an acre or 0.10117 hectares

  2. a unit of area equal to 40 square rods

Origin of rood

1
Old English rōd; related to Old Saxon rōda, Old Norse rōtha

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012