by the rood

by the rood

English

Prepositional phrase

by the rood

1. (archaic) Used as an oath to emphasize the veracity of an associated statement; equivalent to "I swear on Christ's cross."
   • 1577, Nicholas Breton, The Workes of a Young Wyt, London: Thomas Dawson and Thomas Gardyner,

     Sim[on]. I pray thee tell me now, coulde such a shrow as thou,

     Content thy selfe with such a sheepe as I, how sayst thou now?

     Sus[an]. A sheepe, nay by the Roode, I rather would haue guest

     you, more a Hog like, then a sheepe […]

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene iv]:

     Gertrude. Have you forgot me?
     Hamlet. No, by the rood, not so!

   • 1891, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, chapter 9, in The White Company, New York, N.Y.; Boston, Mass.: Thomas Y[oung] Crowell & Company […], OCLC 224313202:

     By the rood! if I had my will upon ye, I should nail you upon the abbey doors, as they hang vermin before their holes.

See also

• swear on, swear upon