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]

Boggle, no, I'm afraid not, but I'd be interested to know, myself, now...

[snowballjane.livejournal.com]

Apparently (according to shipsnostalgia.com) HMS Nelson had "seven octuple 2 pounder pompoms". Could it be those?

[jekesta]

Wentworth is ON FIRE and Bea is refusing to escape because she hasn't got anything to live for.

[randy-gibbons.livejournal.com]

HMS Nelson might not necessarily be the battleship of that name, it's also the name of a shore establishment at Portsmouth, although 'on' does suggest it's the ship.

I suggest you ask the Naval History forum on Rum Ration. You'll have to register on the site.

http://www.navy-net.co.uk/