rood steeple

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Rood \Rood\ (r[=oo]d), n. [AS. r[=o]d a cross; akin to OS. r[=o]da, D. roede rod, G. ruthe, rute, OHG. ruota. Cf. Rod a measure.]

1.A representation in sculpture or in painting of the cross with Christ hanging on it. [1913 Webster]

Note: Generally, the Trinity is represented, the Father as an elderly man fully clothed, with a nimbus around his head, and holding the cross on which the Son is represented as crucified, the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove near the Son's head. Figures of the Virgin Mary and of St. John are often placed near the principal figures. [1913 Webster]

Savior, in thine image seen Bleeding on that precious rood.— Wordsworth.[1913 Webster]

2.A measure of five and a half yards in length; a rod; a perch; a pole. [Prov. Eng.] [1913 Webster]

3.The fourth part of an acre, or forty square rods. [1913 Webster]

By the rood, by the cross; -- a phrase formerly used in swearing. "No, by the rood, not so." --Shak.

Rood beam (Arch.), a beam across the chancel of a church, supporting the rood.

Rood loft (Arch.), a loft or gallery, in a church, on which the rood and its appendages were set up to view. --Gwilt.

Rood screen (Arch.), a screen, between the choir and the body of the church, over which the rood was placed. --Fairholt.

Rood tower (Arch.), a tower at the intersection of the nave and transept of a church; -- when crowned with a spire it was called also rood steeple. --Weale.

Rood tree, the cross. [Obs.] "Died upon the rood tree." --Gower. [1913 Webster]

Steeple \Stee"ple\ (st[=e]"p'l), n. [OE. stepel, AS. st[=e]pel, st[=y]pel; akin to E. steep, a.] (Arch.) A spire; also, the tower and spire taken together; the whole of a structure if the roof is of spire form. See Spire. "A weathercock on a steeple." --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Rood steeple. See Rood tower, under Rood.

Steeple bush (Bot.), a low shrub (Spiraea tomentosa) having dense panicles of minute rose-colored flowers; hardhack.

Steeple chase, a race across country between a number of horsemen, to see which can first reach some distant object, as a church steeple; hence, a race over a prescribed course obstructed by such obstacles as one meets in riding across country, as hedges, walls, etc.

Steeple chaser, one who rides in a steeple chase; also, a horse trained to run in a steeple chase.

Steeple engine, a vertical back-acting steam engine having the cylinder beneath the crosshead.

Steeple house, a church. [Obs.] --Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]