subˈoctave
† 1. [sub- 10.] An eighth part. Obs. rare.
| 1705 Arbuthnot Coins, etc. (1727) 81 Our Gallon, which..has the Pint for its Suboctave. |
2. Mus. [sub- 4 (b).] The octave below a given note. Also attrib. in suboctave coupler.
| 1659 C. Simpson Division-Violist i. 7 With the Lowest String put down a Note, to make it a Sub-Octave thereunto. 1876 Stainer & Barrett Dict. Mus. Terms, Suboctave, a coupler in the organ which pulls down keys one octave below those which are struck. 1884 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 834/2 The choir to great sub-octave coupler was used chiefly as a substitute for a double on the great organ. |