[oh-tah-vuh; It. awt-tah-vah] 
| (of notes in a score) at an octave higher than written (when placed above the staff) or lower than written (when placed below the staff). Abbreviation: 8va |
| ot·ta·va (ō-tä'və) adv. & adj. Music At an octave higher or lower than the notes written. Used chiefly as a direction, positioned above or below a staff. [Italian (all')ottava, (at the) octave, from Medieval Latin octāva, from Latin, feminine of octāvus, eighth; see octave.] |
və