Oc"tave (?), n. [F., fr. L. octava an eighth, fr. octavus eighth, fr. octo eight. See Eight, and cf. Octavo, Utas.]
1.
The eighth day after a church festival, the festival day being included; also, the week following a church festival.
"The
octaves of Easter."
Jer. Taylor.
2. Mus. (a)
The eighth tone in the scale; the interval between one and eight of the scale, or any interval of equal length; an interval of five tones and two semitones.
(b)
The whole diatonic scale itself.
⇒ The ratio of a musical tone to its octave above is 1:2 as regards the number of vibrations producing the tones.
3. Poet.
The first two stanzas of a sonnet, consisting of four verses each; a stanza of eight lines.
With mournful melody it continued this octave.
Sir P. Sidney.
Double octave. Mus. See under Double. -- Octave flute Mus., a small flute, the tones of which range an octave higher than those of the German or ordinary flute; -- called also piccolo. See Piccolo.
4.
A small cask of wine, the eighth part of a pipe.
© Webster 1913.
Oc"tave (?), a.
Consisting of eight; eight.
Dryden.
© Webster 1913.