rood

Meaning

1. A crucifix, cross, especially in a church.
2. A measure of land area, equal to a quarter of an acre.
3. An area of sixty-four square yards.
4. (obsolete) A measure of five and a half yards in length.

Synonyms

crucifix

cross

rood-tree

acre

cruciform

starfish

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɹuːd/

Etymology

From Middle English rode, rood (“cross”), from Old English rōd (“cross”), from Proto-Germanic *rōdō, *rōdǭ (“rod, pole”), from Proto-Indo-European *rōt-, *reh₁t- (“bar, beam, stem”).
Cognate with German Rute (“rod, cane, pole”), Norwegian roda (“rod”). Largely displaced by cross. More at rod.