rood

American  

[rood] / rud /

noun

• roods
  plural

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.

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

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

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

6. Archaic. the cross on which Christ died.

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rood British  

/ ruːd /

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      rood beam

      rood arch

      rood screen

2. the Cross on which Christ was crucified

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

4. a unit of area equal to 40 square rods

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• roods
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of rood

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rood roods

The team also recovered well-preserved painted sculptures and many pieces of the medieval rood screen, which once divided congregants from clergy until it was demolished under Louis XIV.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 20, 2022

There’s another reference that says a clock was installed above the rood screen of a church.

From Scientific American ● Jan. 28, 2022

Beyond the house, the road meandered upward past more villas, then dustily through a cluster of old cottages around the medieval parish church, which had a distinguished rood screen.

From The New Yorker ● Oct. 21, 2019

This panel hung for many years behind the rood screen of a small church in rural Belgium, but its current whereabouts are unknown.

From The Guardian ● May 18, 2018

Then they broke out into the sunlight and for a while they were busy finding and devouring rood as they moved down the scar toward the platform and the meeting.

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

The Warwickshire County Council says there are four roods to one acre, and 40 perches to one rood, though it can vary by locality.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2010

In another setback, he found that land boundaries back then were measured in "roods" and "perches."

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2010

The victor-famed sat, their song they raised, The wise in rede, 'round the three roods Until the ninth hour; new joy they had870 With wonder found.

From Elene; Judith; Athelstan, or the Fight at Brunanburh; Byrhtnoth, or the Fight at Maldon; and the Dream of the Rood Anglo-Saxon Poems by James Mercer Garnett

Seventy-four acres, that makes two hundred and ninety-six roods.

From Autumn Glory The Toilers of the Field by Ren? Bazin

O labor, to despoil Some lovely forest scene, Or at the granite stratum toil, And desecrate whole roods of soil, Is vandal-like and mean!

From Poems Vol. IV by Hattie Howard

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