octaladj.n.
/ˈɒktl/, U.S. /ˈɑktl/ A. adj.
1. Mathematics and Computing. Relating to or designating a system of numerical notation that employs 8 rather than 10 as the base. rare before mid 20th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > mathematical notation or symbol > [adjective] > of specific scale
nonary1604
decimal1616
binary arithmetic1796
octal1801
sextuple1815
ternary1860
sextal1943
1801 J. Anderson Recreations in Agric. 4 438 The octal division, if I may adopt a new word, would have..still more facilitated every kind of computation than the decimal.
1948 Math. Tables & Other Aids Computation 3 295 Binary numbers are set into the keyboard in the octal (radix 8) notation.
1962 T. C. Bartee et al. Theory & Design Digital Machines 307 In the octal system the sequence 624 represents the sum 6 × 82 + 2 × 81 + 4 × 80 which is equal to the sequence 404 in the decimal system.
1973 Nature 27 Apr. 620/1 The octal system is widely used in listing machine instruction programs for small computers, where groups of six octal digits are written in place of sixteen to eighteen binary digits.
1991 Sci. Amer. Aug. 93/3 The Yuki of California felt that their own number system arose from the nature of the human hand, although it is on an octal base!
2. Electronics. Designating valve bases and plugs (and the corresponding sockets, etc.) having a standard circular arrangement of eight pins with a central moulded key for determining the orientation.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic devices or components > thermionic valve > [adjective] > type of valve base or socket
octal1936
1936 Wireless World 20 Nov. 557 (heading) 8-pin base (octal) connections.
1943 C. L. Boltz Basic Radio x. 165 Then from America came the international octal base, with eight pins symmetrically arranged in a circle.
1976 Gramophone Feb. 1403/1 At the left is an octal valve socket designed for use with a matching transformer when a moving coil cartridge is used.
1992 RS Components: Electronic & Electr. Products July 1068/3 The internal contact and coil arrangement is compatible with standard RS octal relays.
B. n.
Mathematics and Computing. The octal system of numerical notation. Also: an octal number (rare). rare before mid 20th cent.
ΘΚΠ
society > computing and information technology > [noun] > numerical notation
octal1801
hexadecimal1970
hex1975
1801 J. Anderson Recreations in Agric. 4 439 If they had adopted the octal; that is, had carried one to the next line at every eight instead of every ten, and had thus counted by octads instead of decads [etc.].
1948 Math. Tables & Other Aids Computation 3 295 The conversions octal-binary and binary-octal are very elementary.
1961 G. W. Evans & C. L. Perry Programming & Coding iii. 89 The two representations ·101010101 in binary, and ·525 in octal, are different representations of the same magnitude.
1961 Times 28 Dec. 9/5 (heading) Thinking in octals. Advantages over decimals.
1977 D. Bagley Enemy xxxi. 253 This gadget is working in octal instead of decimal... Many computers work in octal internally.
1994 IEEE Ann. Hist. Computing 16 60/2 The architecture of the computer reflected the technology of the early 1960s. It was essentially hand-coded in octal.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1801