[FPSPACE] Luna or Lunik?

[Dmitry Pieson]

Hi Dave:
 
You see, Lunnik is not just the calque of Sputnik. -nik is legitimate
Russian derivational suffix, so while Sput-nik means 'someone who
accompanies somebody else' (see also 'put' ', the road), Lun-nik means
'something related to the Moon'. Like, for one, razboinik (the robber) -
'one who is involved in 'razboy' (the robbery)', or 'gaishnik' ('GAI road
police officer). And also, 'maishnik' is an alternative form of more or less
common 'maiovets' for MAI-related person. So the etymology of the word is
probably Russian. However, I can neither confirm nor deny the situation with
the 'reverse adoption', when the Soviets would borrow the Russian word from
the West. It would probably need some deeper investigation, probably with
the veteran journalists here. I will ask someone if I have a chance.
 
Dima