all' ottava

[ ahl uh-tah-vuh; Italian ahl-lawt-tah-vah ]
/ ˌɑl əˈtɑ və; Italian ˌɑl lɔtˈtɑ vɑ /

noun Music.

a direction (8va), placed above or below the staff to indicate that the passage covered is to be played one octave higher or lower respectively.

Origin of all' ottava

1815–25; < Italian: literally, at the octave

British Dictionary definitions for all'ottava

all'ottava
/ (æləˈtɑːvə) /

adjective, adverb

music to be played an octave higher or lower than written Symbol: 8va

Word Origin for all'ottava

Italian: at the octave