octavo

[ ok-tey-voh, -tah- ]

/ ɒkˈteɪ voʊ, -ˈtɑ- /

a book size of about 6 × 9 inches (16 × 23 cm), determined by printing on sheets folded to form 8 leaves or 16 pages. Symbol: 8vo, 8°

a book of this size.

in octavo.

Origin of octavo

1575–85; short for New Latin in octāvō in an eighth (of a sheet)

Although this book (an octavo) bore no date, the names of the subscribing bishops fix it as 1566 or 1567.

A Short History of English Printing, 1476-1898 |Henry R. Plomer
The present edition is in a duodecimo, instead of an octavo form, and is sold at a less price than the previous ones.

Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 73, November, 1863 |Various
The original edition of Parts i-iii is in quarto, Part iv in octavo.

Catalogue of the Books Presented by Edward Capell to the Library of Trinity College in Cambridge |W. W. Greg
The second is a work on government, by the Marquis de Condorcet, two volumes, octavo.

Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson |Thomas Jefferson

A water-color drawing of jumping mouse, by Gilpin; octavo size, pencil drawing of skulls of Shrews.

Nature Books Popular and Scientific from The Franklin Bookshop, 1910 |Samuel N. Rhoads

octavo

/ (ɒkˈteɪvəʊ) /

Also called: eightvo a book size resulting from folding a sheet of paper of a specified size to form eight leaves demi-octavo Often written: 8vo, 8°

a book of this size

(formerly) a size of cut paper 8 inches by 5 inches (20.3 cm by 12.7 cm)

C16: from New Latin phrase in octavo in an eighth (of a whole sheet)