14 April 2017

rood

[rood]

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.
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.

Origin of rood

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

Dictionary.com

Examples from the Web for rood

Historical Examples

And therewith he swore upon the rood, and then came round the table, and knelt before Birdalone, and kissed her hands.
The Water of the Wondrous Isles
William Morris

Then lifting again the rood, he turned away, and with him went the Norman.
Harold, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

He may have been the author of the Dream of the rood ; he was probably a Northumbrian.
Medieval English Literature
William Paton Ker

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Today’s quote

I will prepare and some day my chance will come.

– Abraham Lincoln

On this day

14 April 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater, Washington DC. Lincoln died the following day.

14 April 1912 – the RMS Titanic strikes an ice-berg just before midnight in the north Atlantic ocean as it sailed on its maiden voyage from Southampton UK to New York City USA , resulting in the deaths of 1,502 of the 3,372 people onboard.

14 April 1988 – Soviet Union begins withdrawing troops from Afghanistan after nine years of occupation.