Rood
Rood is an archaic word for “pole”, from Anglo-Saxon rōd “pole”, specifically “Crucifix”, from Proto-Germanic *rodo, cognate to Old Saxon rōda, Old High German ruoda “rod”; the relation of rood to rod, from Anglo-Saxon rodd “pole” is unclear; the latter was perhaps influenced by Old Norse rudda “club”).
Specifically, rood is an old English unit of area, equal to quarter an Acre, i.e. 10 890 square feet or 1011.7141056 mē (for the international Inch) or about 10.1 Are. A rectangular area with edges of one Furlong and one rod respectively is one rood, as is an area consisting of 40 square rods. Confusingly called an acre in some ancient contexts. The rood is an important measure in Surveying on account of its easy conversion with the acre. In provincial England, a rood was also a measure of length, corresponding to five and a half yards.
In the meaning “crucifix”, rood may refer to a representation in sculpture or in painting of the cross with Christ hanging on it. It remains in use in some names, like Holyrood Palace and Dream of the Rood. The phrase "by the rood" was used in swearing, e.g. “No, by the rood, not so” in Shakespeare’s Hamlet (Act 3, Scene 4).
In Church Architecture a rood screen is a wooden or stone Screen, usually separating the chancel or Choir from the Nave. The screen may be elaborately carved and may have been painted. It supported a large cross or crucifix, though in England these were often destroyed by Puritans during the English Civil War; at the same time many rood screens were themselves destroyed. Some rood screens incorporated a narrow singing Gallery called a rood loft. The rood stair which gave access to the gallery is often the only remaining sign of the rood loft.