ROOD

(Ang. Sax. rode, beam; used for the Cro .) The crucifix, sometimes also the image of a saint, was so called in old English churches. Roods were set in shrines or tabernacles,and the place where they stood was called the rood-loft, which was commonly over or near the pa age out of the body of the church into the chancel. They were all ordered to be taken down in 1548 (Burnet, Hist, of the Reformation, vol. ii., book 1), but restored for a short time under Queen Mary. (Arch ceo logia, vol. i.) Rood. A square measure, the fourth part of a statute acre, and equal to 40 perches or square poles. [s. 1086]