rota Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun (Roman Catholic Church) the supreme ecclesiastical tribunal for cases appealed to the Holy See from diocesan courts
  2. noun a roster of names showing the order in which people should perform certain duties

WordNet

Ro"ta noun
Etymology
L. rota wheel. The name is said to allude to the design of the floor of the room in which the court used to sit, which was that of a wheel. See Rotary.
Definitions
  1. An ecclesiastical court of Rome, called also Rota Romana, that takes cognizance of suits by appeal. It consists of twelve members.
  2. (Eng. Hist.) A short-lived political club established in 1659 by J.Harrington to inculcate the democratic doctrine of election of the principal officers of the state by ballot, and the annual retirement of a portion of Parliament.
Ro"ta noun
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) A species of zither, played like a guitar, used in the Middle Ages in church music; -- written also rotta.

Webster 1913