OCCUPE, Fr. to be taken possession of. Les environs furent occupés par des troupes légéres; the neighboring places were taken possession of by some light troops.
To OCCUPY, is to take possession of any work or post.
OCTAEDRE, Fr. Octahedron, one of the five regular bodies which is terminated by eight equilateral equal triangles.
OCTAGON, (Octogone, Fr.) a figure or polygon that has eight equal sides, which likewise form eight equal angles. The octagon, in fortification, is well calculated in its ground for the construction of large towns, or for such as have the advantage of neighboring rivers, especially if the engineer can so place the bastions, that the entrance and outlet of the rivers may be in some of the curtains. By means of this disposition no person could come in or go out of the garrison without the governor’s or commandant’s permission, as the centinels must have a full view from the flanks of the neighboring Bastions.
OCTAVION, (one, Fr.) any male or female that is born of a quarteron and a white woman, or of a white man and a quarterone.
OCTONS, Fr. a mathematical instrument, which contains 45 degrees or the eighth part of a circle.
OCTOEDRICAL, having eight sides.
OCTOSTYLE, the face of a building containing eight columns.
ODA. The different corps or companies into which the janizaries are divided, bear this appellation. The word itself means a room, and the companies are so called from messing separately.
ODEN, ODIN, or WODEN, a deity so called in ancient times among the Swedes, and Goths. He was their god of war in the same manner that they acknowleged Thor to be their Jupiter, and Freya their Venus.