wanderstar

English

Etymology

From wander +‎ star, probably a calque of German Wandelstern (“planet”). Compare the historic term wandering star, like the German term ultimately a calque from Ancient Greek.

Noun

wanderstar (plural wanderstars)

1. (science fiction, fantasy) A wandering star or other similar heavenly body; a comet; meteor; planet.
   • 1994, Ellen Datlow, Terri Windling, The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror:

     He had thumbed about in Chants of a Wander-Star last night in bed and wondered about the career of that marginal versifier — born out of his proper time and now remembered by Ackley in an era even less proper.

   • 2003, Poul Anderson, Mother of Kings:

     A thin scythe of moon was rising, near the white wanderstar of dawn or dusk.

   • 2009, Robert V. S. Redick, The Red Wolf Conspiracy:

     He passed gulls, terns, cormorants as if they were standing still. Now and then a wander-star crossed the heavens: one of the metal eyes the ancients hung over Alifros to spy on their enemies.