Rod (unit) facts for kids
A rod is an old unit for measuring length. It is also sometimes called a perch or a pole. This unit is part of the imperial system, used in countries like the United Kingdom. It is also found in the US customary system.
A rod is equal to:
| 1 rod | = 16+1⁄2 feet |
| = 5+1⁄2 yards | |
| = 1⁄4 chain | |
| = 5.0292 metres |
Contents
History of the Rod Unit
The rod has a long history. In the Middle Ages, English farmers used a wooden stick. They used this stick to guide their oxen when ploughing fields. The length of this stick became known as the rod.
People started using this measurement around the 6th century. Its exact length was officially set in the 12th century. This was done with a document called Composito Ulnarum et Perticarum.
Where Rods Are Still Used
Even today, the rod is still used in some special areas. For example, when people go canoeing, they sometimes have to carry their canoes over land. These paths are often measured in rods. This might be because a typical canoe is about one rod long. In the United Kingdom, some gardens are still measured using rods.
Other Pages to Explore
Images for kids
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The sign in Pieter Aertsen's painting A Meat Stall with the Holy Family Giving Alms mentions land for sale by the rod.
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A standard bar at the City Hall in Münster, Germany, from 1816. It shows one "Prussian Half Rod" (1.883 m).
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Holyrood, Edinburgh
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See also
In Spanish: Rod (unidad de longitud) para niños
