Noun (Historical):

A person who is one-eighth Black by descent.

Example sentence:

The play tells the story of an octoroon struggling to find their place in a society divided by racial boundaries.

Noun:

A term used in the 19th century to refer to someone who had one black grandparent.

Example sentence:

In his genealogical research, he discovered that his great-grandmother was an octoroon.

Adjective:

Describing a person who is one-eighth Black by descent.

Example sentence:

Her octoroon heritage gave her a unique perspective on racial issues.