ˈeight-ˈsquare, a. Obs. exc. Naut.
[f. eight + square, after the logically correct four-square; cf. three-square.]
Having eight equal sides; in the form of a regular octagon, octagonal.
| 1538 Leland Itin. II. 53 The work is 8-square. 1598 Hakluyt Voy. II. i. 104 It was eight square and very thicke. 1680 Lond. Gaz. No. 1499/4 A small eight-square Watch. 1710 Ibid. No. 4748/4 Two Silver polished Candlesticks eight square. c 1860 H. Stuart Seaman's Catech. 75 All yards are made eight-square in the centre. 1907 S. E. White Arizona Nights i. i. 4 He..carried across his saddle a heavy ‘eight square’ rifle. |
| quasi-adv. 1679 Plot Staffordsh. (1686) 369 The tower of the Church of Dilhorn..is somewhat remarkable, it being built eight square. 1682 Wheler Journ. Greece v. 395 He built a Tower eight square of Marble. c 1850 Rudim. Navig. (Weale) 114 A short beam..trimmed eight-square. |
Hence
eight-square n., an octagonal figure;
eight-square v., to fashion into octagonal shape.
| 1794 Rigging & Seamansh. I. 21 A straight line is then struck..and the eight-square lined from it. Ibid. 20 The..side is then canted up and eight-squared. |