Rod (unit)

A_Meat_Stall_with_the_Holy_Family_Giving_Alms_-_Placard

Münster,_Historisches_Rathaus,_Preussische_halbe_Ruthe_--_2017_--_9783_(crop)

Gortavaura_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1258792

Indian_Ovens_(S)_2750

Rod
Unit system	Imperial/US units
Unit of	Length
Symbol	rd
Conversions
1 rd in ...	... is equal to ...
Imperial/US units	16.5 feet
Metric (SI) units	5.0292 meters

The rod, also known as a pole or perch, is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems. It is equal to 16.5 feet or exactly 5.0292 meters. The rod is a historical unit that was used in various fields such as surveying, agriculture, and construction.

History

The rod has its origins in the Roman Empire, where it was used as a measure of land. The term "rod" is derived from the Old English word "rodd," which means a straight stick or pole. The length of the rod was standardized in the 12th century by King Henry I of England, who defined it as the length of the left feet of 16 men lined up heel to toe.

Usage

The rod was commonly used in land surveying and agriculture to measure plots of land. In surveying, it was often used in conjunction with the chain, which is 66 feet long and consists of 100 links, each link being 0.66 feet or 7.92 inches. Four rods make up one chain.

In agriculture, the rod was used to measure fields and plots. It was also used in the construction of buildings and roads, where it served as a convenient unit of measurement for laying out foundations and other structures.

Conversion

The rod can be converted to other units of length as follows:

• 1 rod = 16.5 feet
• 1 rod = 5.0292 meters
• 1 rod = 5.5 yards
• 1 rod = 198 inches

Related Units

The rod is related to several other units of length, including:

• Furlong: 1 furlong = 40 rods
• Acre: 1 acre = 160 square rods
• Mile: 1 mile = 320 rods

See Also

• Imperial units
• United States customary units
• Surveying
• Chain (unit)
• Furlong
• Acre
• Mile