[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

rood \rood\ r=ood, n. as. r=od a cross; akin to os.
   r=oda, 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
see also:
rod by the rood rood beam rood loft rood screen rood tower 
rood steeple rood tree 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

steeple \stee"ple\ st=e"p'l, n. oe. stepel, as. st=epel,
   st=ypel; 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
see also:
spire rood steeple rood tower rood steeple bush spiraea tomentosa 
steeple chase steeple chaser steeple engine steeple house 

Steeple >> S Words
Steeple, definition of term: Steeple
steeple_pag1.html

Rood >> R Words
Rood, definition of term: Rood
rood_pag1.html

Steeple Chase >> S Words
Steeple Chase, definition of term: Steeple Chase
steeple+chase_pag1.html

Rood Loft >> R Words
Rood Loft, definition of term: Rood Loft
rood+loft_pag1.html

Rood Beam >> R Words
Rood Beam, definition of term: Rood Beam
rood+beam_pag1.html