Octopidal

[slemslempike]

Does anyone know what "octopidal" means, or what it might be an error for? I have encountered it in Gyles Brandreth's biography of John Gielgud, on an announcement about Gielgud's performance on HMS Nelson, saying "Loudspeakers are being rigged so that any audience in the octopidal should be able to hear".

Neither google nor the OED are any help. I do not mean octopedal.

Comments

[whatho.livejournal.com]

No, but I shan't SLEEP now until I do. Google is remarkably unhelpful. I think all its references are people who meant to type octopoidal. Possibly Brandreth misheard. It doesn't sound much like a part of a ship. What part of a ship has eight somethings?

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

Hmm, unless Brandreth also meant 'octopoidal', as a adjectival noun? That the loudspeakers would serve to transmit the sound through the water, enabling the octopi to listen in?

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

Hee! It would probably boost their morale and make them join in the war on Our side.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

It was copied from a printed navy announcement! You would think that the navy would use the right words for things. Maybe it is a navy injoke?

It ends "MR. GIELGUD HAS PROMISED TO GIVE US HIS RENDERING OF "NELSON'S SPIRIT" - LET US SHOW HIM AND HIS COMPANY OURS."

[sabethea.livejournal.com]

I am imagining them pouring whiskey down his throat later...