rood

Etymology

Came into English via Middle English rode, rood (“cross”), from Old English rōd (“cross”), from Proto-Germanic *rōdō, *rōdǭ (“rod, pole”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *rōt-, *reh₁t- (“bar, beam, stem”). It is cognate with German Rute (“rod, cane, pole”) and Norwegian roda (“rod”). The word has been largely displaced by cross. More at rod.