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°.
2.
a book of this size.
adjective
3.
in octavo.
Origin
1575-85; short for Neo-Latinin octāvō in an eighth (of a sheet)
Examples from the web for octavo
The so-called octavo format was a departure from previous manuscripts because it was handy, portable, and pocket-size.
The notes are so many that they turn the thin little old quarto into a fat octavo.
Folio books are the largest, quarto the next largest, and octavo and duodecimo follow in descending order.
British Dictionary definitions for octavo
octavo
/ɒkˈteɪvəʊ/
noun (pl) -vos
1.
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°
2.
a book of this size
3.
(formerly) a size of cut paper 8 inches by 5 inches (20.3 cm by 12.7 cm)
Word Origin
C16: from New Latin phrase in octavo in an eighth (of a whole sheet)
Word Origin and History for octavo
n.
1580s, printer's word for sheets folded to make eight leaves, from Latin in octavo "in the eighth," ablative of octavus "eighth" (see octave). Abbreviation is 8vo.