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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Octave flute

Octave \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.)

    1. 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.

    2. The whole diatonic scale itself.

      Note: 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.