offworlder n.
a person or being from another planet; an alien
Aliens
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1957
Andre Norton
It might be easy, now that he had established mental contact with this off-worlder, for the other to pick up a thought as vivid as that.
Star Born 187
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1960
Harry Harrison
You are from off-world, that I know. No junkman would have lifted a finger to save my life. You are the first off-worlder my people have ever known and for that you are doubly welcome.
Deathworld in Astounding Science Fiction Feb. 131/2
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1962
Maybe the offworlder tried.
Ballad of Lost C'mell in T. Shippey Oxford Book of Science Fiction (1992) 319
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1966
The Off-Worlders.
Off-Worlders (title)
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1967
Larry Niven
She looked startled. ‘Oh! You're an offworlder… Look, you can’t go around town with an offworldder’s [sic] wallet.’
in If Mar. 81/2
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1974
Ursula K. Le Guin
The aliens, the off-worlders, stayed hiding in their ship.
Dispossessed (1975) i.2
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1976
Cecelia Holland
bibliography
She worked in the library, writing out a master contract to allow off-worlders to trade in Matuko.
Floating Worlds (1977) 161
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1978
Vonda N. McIntyre
It was the place the offworlders sometimes landed.
Dreamsnake (1979) ii. 46
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1982
Marion Zimmer Bradley
bibliography
In the Dry towns any stranger walked with his life in his hands. An off-worlder could not have maintained safety for a single day.
Winds of Darkover 116
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1984
Marion Zimmer Bradley
bibliography
Forgive me, I have lived long among offworlders and I keep my barriers up without realizing it.
World Wreckers 42
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1988
Arthur C. Clarke
Too clannish—not really friendly to offworlders.
2061: Odyssey Three 162
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1992
Peter David
bibliography
Weddings are always done out loud, in consideration of any offworlders who might be in the audience.
Imzadi xiii. 97
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2001 Locus June 35/2
The colonists have legends of ships arriving, and offworlders turn up eventually.
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2004
Peter F. Hamilton
He was impressed, for the bag was large and obviously heavy. But despite the clumsy way she carried it, she could lift it easily. She was strong. All offworlders were strong, he knew that.
Pandora's Star iv. 102
Research requirements
antedating 1957
Earliest cite
A. Norton 'Star Born'
Research History
Mike Christie submitted a 1967 cite from Larry Niven's "Flatlander".Mike Christie submitted a cite from a 1984 reprint of Andre Norton's "Star Born"; we would like to check the 1957 first edition.
Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a reprint of Frank Herbert's "Dune"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1965 first magazine appearance.
Douglas Winston submitted a cite from a reprint of Harry Harrison's "Deathworld"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1960 first magazine appearance.
Added to the OED in March 2004 with an earliest date of 1957.
Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
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entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.