(a) A stick, pole, rod; lim ~ [see lim n.(2) 4.(c)]; (b) a sapling; a branch on a tree; ~ of hasel (palm, etc.); moises ~, ?a limb from some kind of tree; note (popel, poplere) ~, a branch of a nut (poplar) tree; (c) fig. a scion of a family;—used specif. of the descent of the Virgin Mary from Jesse, father of King David; ~ of jesse.

A stick or pole used for various purposes: (a) as a rod or staff; also fig.; ~ of consolacioun; ~ of moises, moises ~; (b) as an instrument for inflicting pain or punishment; a club, cudgel; also fig.; also, a flail or whip; red ~, an instrument of the Passion; (c) as a tally stick; also, a fishing pole; (d) as a wand vested with supernatural powers; slepi ~, Mercury’s sleep-inducing wand; (e) ~ of aaron, Aaron’s rod [see Num. 17.1-10]; also, fig. the Virgin Mary.

In stock similes and prov. expressions; ~ rightnesse, the straightness of a rod;—used fig. as moral rectitude.

A rodlike object, usu. of metal, used as: (a) a scepter; also, a rod used as an emblem of authority, office, or power; also fig. [quot. c1350]; also iron. [quot. a1300]; under ~, under control; under Cristis ~, subject to Christian doctrine and discipline. (b) a small rod used in a surgical procedure; a splint; also, a rod used to stir a chemical mixture; pumpe ~, ?a handle for a pump.

A yard or spar lashed to a mast of a ship from which a square sail is suspended; ~ arm, either of the two parts of a yard; ~ rop, a rope used to control the orientation of a yardarm, a brace; main ~ [see main adj. 3.]; mesan ~, the spar on which the mizzen sail is spread; seile-yerde, q.v.; sprete ~, a yard or pole slung under the bowsprit.

Something vaguely resembling a rod in shape: (a) a straight written stroke; (b) a column (of smoke); (c) herde-mannes (shep-herdes) ~, a plant of the Dipsacus family, prob. Dipsacus fullonum (teasel) or D. pilosus or D. sylvestris.

(a) A penis; the penis; also, the penis of an animal; also, a foreskin, prepuce [1st quot.]; ~ ende, the foreskin, prepuce; hed (ende) of the ~; hole (eie) of the ~; pipe of the ~, the male urethra; (b) in misc. combs. and phrases: ~ fel, fig. an impure covering or outer layer; bole ~, ?a bull’s penis used as a flogging instrument, pizzle; holnesse of ~, a state of being uncircumcised; maumet of mannes ~, a representation of Priapus.

(a) The standard English unit of linear measure, 36 inches; elne ~ [see elne n. 2.]; met ~ [see met n. 1.(e)]; (b) a measure of the length of cloth, usu. 36 inches; brod ~, the double yard used as the standard measurement for the width of broadcloth; taillour(es ~, a yard as measured by a tailor, 36 or 37 inches; (c) ~ of gemetrie, ?a rod, sixteen and one-half feet; (d) a rod for measuring a yard, a yardstick; ~ of measure; ~ wand; met ~ [see met n. 1.(b)]; taille yerdis, ?yards measured by a scored stick; (e) in stock expressions: more bi a ~, a great deal more; yeven not a ~, ?to care very little; ?not yield any ground, not give an inch.

A unit of land measure, prob. commonly ranging from 15 to 60 acres, a yardland, a virgate; also, a landholding of a yardland; ~ lond, ~ of lond; hed ~, a strip of a rood at the edge of a field.

In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.200].