A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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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.
Rot(t, n.2 [17th c. Eng. rot (1635), Du. rot, Germ. rotte. Cf. Rout n.1 = Ratt n.3, a file (of soldiers). Also attrib. with master. Cf. Rut(e)ma(i)ster n.] —1637 Monro Exped. 183.
To make a complete company of marching men under armes there must be one hundred twentie six men in armes being reckoned to twenty-one rots each rot being six men Ib.
A company thus consisting of twenty-one rots is divided in six corporall-ships whereof three being pikemen. … Also there must be … three corporall-ships of musketiers each corporall-ship being counted twenty-foure men being foure rots so that to make up the company complete there must be nine rots of pikemen … and twelve rots of musketiers … they make a complete body of a company without officers Ib. 184.
Eight corporall-ships of musketiers, being thirty-two rots divided in foure plottons ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 230.
His [sc. Doctor Sibbald's] papers wer brought by ane rott of muskateirs at command of the committe out of his own houseattrib. 1637 Monro Exped. 183.
Two [men] are esteemed as leaders, being a corporall a rot-master or leader, and an under rot-master, … then in a company you have twenty-one leaders being six of them corporalls and fifteen rot-masters
