Word: rod Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Old English *rodd Middle English rodde English rod From Middle English rodde, from Old English *rodd or *rodde (attested in dative plural roddum (“rod, pole”)), of uncertain origin, but probably from Proto-Germanic *rudd- (“stick, club”), from Proto-Indo-European *rewdʰ- (“to clear land”). Compare Old Norse rudda (“club”). For the root, compare English rid. Presumably unrelated to Proto-Germanic *rōdō (“rod, pole”). Pronunciation: /ɹɒd/, /ɹɑd/ 1. A straight, round stick, shaft, bar, cane, or staff. Example: The circus strong man proved his strength by bending an iron rod, and then straightening it. Example: Which makes the concept known as Rods From God the ultimate form of kinetic weaponry. This theoretical weapon would drop telephone pole sized rods of dense tungsten from a satellite in orbit. Picking up speed with each passing second, the rod would then penetrate the ground and generate an explosion akin to a small nuclear weapon using nothing but gravity for its propulsion. 2. A longitudinal pole used for forming part of a framework such as an awning or tent. 3. A long slender usually tapering pole used for angling; fishing rod. Example: When I hooked a snake and not a fish, I got so scared I dropped my rod in the water. 4. A stick, pole, or bundle of switches or twigs (such as a birch), used for personal defense or to administer corporal punishment by whipping. Example: So was I brought up: they tell mee, that in all my youth, I never felt rod [translating verges] but twice, and that very lightly. 5. An implement resembling and/or supplanting a rod (particularly a cane) that is used for corporal punishment, and metonymically called the rod, regardless of its actual shape and composition. Example: The judge imposed on the thief a sentence of fifteen strokes with the rod. 6. A stick used to measure distance, by using its established length or task-specific temporary marks along its length, or by dint of specific graduated marks. Example: I notched a rod and used it to measure the length of rope to cut. 7. A unit of length equal to 1 pole, a perch, ¹⁄₄ chain, 5+¹⁄₂ yards, 16+¹⁄₂ feet, or exactly 5.0292 meters (these being all equivalent). Labels: archaic Example: ‘And this thicket, so full of a natural art, was in the immediate vicinity, within a few rods, of the dwelling of Madame Deluc, whose boys were in the habit of closely examining the shrubberies about them in search of the bark of the sassafras.’ Example: In one of the villages I saw the next summer a cow tethered by a rope six rods long[…]. 8. An implement held vertically and viewed through an optical surveying instrument such as a transit, used to measure distance in land surveying and construction layout; an engineer's rod, surveyor's rod, surveying rod, leveling rod, ranging rod. The modern (US) engineer's or surveyor's rod commonly is eight or ten feet long and often designed to extend higher. In former times a surveyor's rod often was a single wooden pole or composed of multiple sectioned and socketed pieces, and besides serving as a sighting target was used to measure distance on the ground horizontally, hence for convenience was of one rod or pole in length, that is, 5+¹⁄₂ yards. 9. A unit of area equal to a square rod, 30+¹⁄₄ square yards or ¹⁄₁₆₀ acre. Labels: archaic Example: The house had a small yard of about six rods in size. 10. A straight bar that unites moving parts of a machine, for holding parts together as a connecting rod or for transferring power as a driveshaft. Example: The engine threw a rod, and then went to pieces before our eyes, springs and coils shooting in all directions. 11. A rod cell: a rod-shaped cell in the eye that is sensitive to light. Example: The rods are more sensitive than the cones, but do not discern color. 12. Any of a number of long, slender microorganisms. Example: He applied a gram positive stain, looking for rods indicative of Listeria. 13. A stirring rod: a glass rod, typically about 6 inches to 1 foot long and ¹⁄₈ to ¹⁄₄ inch in diameter that can be used to stir liquids in flasks or beakers. 14. A pistol; a gun. Labels: slang Example: One of them strode to his side and ran experienced fingers through his clothes. "No rod," he reported, "where's the jewelry?" 15. The penis. Labels: slang, vulgar Example: [I'm gonna][…]throw some vaseline right in the crack a your ass, then I'm gonna shove my rod in your open hole and try to pacify your ornery soul. 16. A hot rod, an automobile or other passenger motor vehicle modified to run faster and often with exterior cosmetic alterations, especially one based originally on a pre-1940s model or (currently) denoting any older vehicle thus modified. Labels: slang 17. A rod-shaped object that appears in photographs or videos traveling at high speed, not seen by the person recording the event, often associated with extraterrestrial entities. Example: These cylindrical rods fly through the air at incredible speeds and can only be picked up by high-speed cameras. Example: During one such broadcast in 1997, the esteemed radio host bellowed, “I got a fax earlier today from MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) in Arizona and they said what you think are rods are actually insects!” 18. A Cuisenaire rod. 19. A coupling rod or connecting rod, which links the driving wheels of a steam locomotive, and some diesel shunters and early electric locomotives. Example: In the early days troubles were experienced with oscillation from the rod drive and with the transformers, but were overcome later, and these machines performed useful service until superseded by more modern locomotives less costly in maintenance. 20. A drain rod, being a set of segmented rods with interlocking connectors designed to remain attached even under rotation in use.