Daily AncestorRod
A rod, also called a pole or perch, is a land measure of 16 and a half feet, used constantly in old deeds and surveys.
Rod, pole and perch are three names for the same length: 16.5 feet, or a quarter of a surveyor's chain. Old deeds give boundary lines in poles or perches.
Perch could also mean a square rod as a unit of area. An acre is 160 square rods, so 40 rods by 4 rods makes one acre.
As seen in a recordDeed recorded in a county deed book, 1800s
Thence N 30 W 86 poles to a hickory.
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Rod." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/rod. Last checked 2026-10-01.