Rood (Scots)

Holyrood, Edinburgh

A Scottish rood (ruid in Lowland Scots, ròd in Scottish Gaelic) was a land measurement of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was in greatest use in the South East of Scotland, and along the border, whereas in the north various other systems were used, based on the land's productivity, rather than actual area. Four Scottish roods made up a Scottish acre.

As in England, "rood" was also used to mean a cross or crucifix, whence "Holyrood" (the name of the new Scottish parliament), an Anglicisation of the Lowland Scots haly ruid (holy cross), and also "The Dream of the Rood".

Equivalent to -

• Scottish measures
  • 1/4 acre, 40 falls²
• Metric system
  • 12.7 ares, 1270 square metres
• Imperial system
  • 1.3 roods (English)

See also

• Obsolete Scottish units of measurement
  • In the East Highlands:
    • Rood
    • Scottish acre = 4 roods
    • Oxgang (Damh-imir) = the area an ox could plough in a year (around 20 acres)
    • Ploughgate (?) = 8 oxgangs
    • Daugh (Dabhach) = 4 ploughgates
  • In the West Highlands:
    • Groatland - (Còta bàn) = basic unit
    • Pennyland (Peighinn) = 2 groatlands
    • Quarterland (Ceathramh) = 4 pennylands (8 groatlands)
    • Ounceland (Tir-unga) = 4 quarterlands (32 groatlands)
    • Markland (Marg-fhearann) = 8 Ouncelands (varied)