noun

1. a straight, slender shoot or stem cut from, or still part of, a bush or tree
2. Bible an offshoot or branch of a family or tribe; stock or race
3. any straight, or almost straight, stick, shaft, bar, staff, etc., of wood, metal, or other material curtain rods, a lightning rod
4. 1. a stick or switch, or a bundle of sticks or switches, for beating as punishment
   2. punishment; chastisement: usually with the
5. 1. a staff, scepter, etc., carried as a symbol of office, rank, or power
   2. power; authority; often, tyrannical rule
6. fishing rod
7. a stick used to measure something
8. 1. a unit of length in the FPS system, equal to 16.5 feet or 5.5 yards (5.0292 meters): abbrev. rd
   2. a square rod, equal to 30.25 square yards (25.2929 square meters)
9. ☆ Slang a pistol or revolver
10. ☆ Slang hot rod
11. Anat. any of the rod-shaped cells in the retina of the vertebrate eye that are sensitive to dim light
12. Bacteriology any microorganism shaped like a bacillus

Etymology: ME rodde < OE rodd, akin to ON rudda, club, prob. < IE base *rēt-, *rōt-, bar, beam > L retae, trees on a river bank