Rote (?), n. [OE. rote, probably of German origin; cf. MHG. rotte, OHG. rota, hrota, LL. chrotta. Cf. Crowd a kind of violin.] (Mus.) A kind of guitar, the notes of which were produced by a small wheel or wheel-like arrangement; an instrument similar to the hurdy-gurdy.
Well could he sing and play on a rote. Chaucer.
extracting mistuned dirges from their harps, crowds, and rotes. Sir W. Scott.