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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Rod(e, Roid, Road(e, n. Also: rodd; royde; rood; roadd; rud. [ME and e.m.E. rode (Cursor M.), rood(e (15th c.), e.m.E. also road(e (1575), OE rád Rad(e n. Cf. Red(e n.³]

1. A hostile incursion made by mounted men; a raid. = Rad(e n. 1.(1) 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 42.
He maid a rode into England against the inhabitants of Norhame(b) 1542 Misc. Bann. C. I 16.
Preistis, … as often as he intendide to repair to your grace, causide invasions and roddis(c) 1542 Hamilton P. I 158.
The gentyllmen of Northummerland … dyd mak ane royde in Scottysland(d) 1584 Misc. Wodrow Soc. 420.
A road of England in Scotland … tooke a ritche prey 1586 in A. Hay Nobility 48.
If any soodain road should bee made from the Highlands 1589 Cal. Sc. P. X 260.
Amongest other thingis I perceave thaire hes bene sum roadis on the borderis be sum on my syde 1596–7 Cal. Sc. P. XII 478.
[Buccleuch would have made a] roadd [in your wardenry ere now] 1640 Moray Synod 46.
That no minister … goe to hoasting or roads without … a speciall warrant from the presbytery(2) 1592–3 Cal. Sc. P. XI 38.
[The] rode of Fawklande 1641 J. Maxwell, Bp. Episcopacie Not Abjured 92.
These attempts which are commonly called roads, as at the road of Strivelling, the road of Leith and the Abbey road c1646 Craufurd Edinb. Univ. fol. 62.
The rode of Stirling c1679 Kirkton Hist. 13.
Ruthven-road Ib. 46.
This was done at the Whiggs' Road, as was called a1686 Turner Mem. 68.
The Whiggamer rode

b. A spell of riding, or a journey, on horseback. 1584–5 Cal. Sc. P. VII 563.
[The] perseweris [horses after so great a] rod [should be weary]

c. A set or company of riders.[Cf. ME rod (14th c.), obs. e.m.E. rode (1530), in the same sense.] 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII 293.
To tuenty tua rod of men of weir feyit thair, extending to ij^cxx men

2. A stretch of water near a shore where a ship may anchor in shelter and safety; a roadstead. = Rad(e n. 6.(a) 1545 Douglas Corr. 163.
Thair is alse gude rodes for all maner of wyndis as is in Cristianite 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 181.
If thair haid not bene a better rode fund owt by caiptane Buttin's painfull cair and diligence than the rod of Illantixa is 1667 Wemyss in Sc. Diaries 129.
3 of the king's ships was ridding in Leith Rode(b) 1615 Denmylne MSS in Highland P. III 180.
The pillats … shew him thair opinioun of the rod 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 211.
Ane rod port harberis or creik upoun the cost of Ingland 1678 Ib. VI 145.
To arrive within their rodd loadned pairtly with staple comodities 1689 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 438.
The rod of Leith(c) 1633 (1640) Banff Ann. I 84.
Ane bark … perischit in the roid of Banff(d) 1680 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 80a.
For lifting salt a boord of ships out of barks in the rood, 7 s.(e) 1588 Lett. Jas. VI to Eliz. 55.
I thocht goode … to assure you that the Spanishe flete neuer entered uithin any roade or heauen within my dominion 1600-1610 Melvill 168.
Because it was law water, we behoved to ly a whyll in the road till the water grew 1697 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 252.
Obleidged to have ane ballist boat allwayes in readieness for the service of the road or harbour(f) 1559–60 Crail B. Ct. 23 Jan.
This port or rud of Craill