Lunite n.

a native or inhabitant of the Moon; = Lunarian n.; Lunarite n.

Now rare.

In quot. 1882, referring to a non-sentient creature native to the Moon.

Demonyms

  • [1882 ‘N. Green’ Thousand Years Hence xvi. 311 page image Nunsowe Green bibliography

    Some of the larger of the lunar slugs had been picked up on this first visit [...] From being afterwards prepared in a particular way, suggestive of old North-British curing practice, they got the name of ‘kippered lunites,’ and were so greedily taken by the market, that the brother provisioner in question made a rapid fortune. ]

  • 1928 ‘Marius’ Vandals from the Moon in Amazing Stories July 308/2 page image Steve Benedict bibliography

    I wondered at the fate of the many others that stood in the way of the Lunite invaders. Away to the south of me, I once noticed a long yellow ray, like a jaundiced finger of Death, traverse the sky and then fall down again. The Lunites were conquering once more.

  • 1933 J. Kendig, Jr. Eternal Mask in Amazing Stories Feb. 1036/2 page image Julian Kendig, Jr. bibliography

    Our situation…is similar to that which a Lunite might have encountered had he visited New England in 1690. Any wretch who claimed ancestry among the people of the moon in those days, would have been convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake.

  • 1941 R. Cummings Space-Flight of Terror in Science Fiction Jan. 15/1 page image Ray Cummings bibliography

    No more than a dozen passengers, this flight; Earth people, a few Martians—a Lunite or two.

  • 1956 P. W. Fairman Black Blockade in Fantastic Feb. 51/1 page image Paul W. Fairman bibliography

    The stunned Mace shook hands with the Lunite while Tack Largo whispered in his ear…. ‘Be quiet!’ Mace hissed. ‘I beg pardon?’ the Lunar youth said.

  • 1985 J. Weddington Letter in Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine mid–Dec. 16/2 page image

    A Centaurian or Lunite is not going to be aware of oddities in HIS language. He may wonder about those cretins from South Pole Saturn but not about his own language.

Research requirements

postdating 1928
Research History
Fred Galvin submitted a 1951 cite from Samuel A. Peeples, David A. Kyle, and Martin Greenberg's "A Dictionary of Science Fiction".
Ben Ostrowsky submitted an 1882 cite from "Nunsowe Green".

We would like to get any evidence later than the mid-20th century.

Last modified 2022-01-24 16:32:17
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.