Also 7 anglicized lune. [L. lūna moon.] (In senses 1 and 2 written with capital L as proper name.]
1. The moon (personified).
a. 1529. Skelton, Bowge of Courte, 3. Whan Luna, full of mutabylyte, As emperes the dyademe hath worne Of our pole artyke.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. ii. 39. Dul. What is dictima? Nath. A title to Phebe, to Luna, to the Moone.
1592. Kyd, Sp. Trag., II. iv. 19. And Luna hides her selfe to pleasure vs.
1836. M. Mackintosh, Cottager’s Dau., 319. Luna shone bright in the blue arch above.
2. † a. Alch. Silver (obs.). b. Her. The name used for argent, in the blazon of sovereign princes.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 273. Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe.
1594. Plat, Jewell-ho., III. 89. To melt one part of Luna with 3 parts of Venus.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 45. When Ioue they turne to Sol or Luna fine.
1606. J. Davies (Heref.), Select Second Husband (Grosart), 7/1. Though Beauty then seem Sol, at least as rich, It will be found but Lune, on Tryalls touch.
1641. French, Distill., vi. (1651), 196. Take … of our lune, not of the vulgar, graines two.
1652. Ashmole, Theatr. Chem., 198. Luna ys a pure white Body of clene Mercury & Sulphur white ingendered.
1709. Hearne, Collect., 6 Nov. (O. H. S.), II. 301. A Cross Patée Luna.
1758. [see JUPITER 2 b].
1828–40. Berry, Encycl. Her.
c. Luna cornea = HORN SILVER, chloride of silver fused. Also Lunæ (incorrectly Luna) cornua.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Luna Cornea or Lunæ Cornua, a tough, tasteless Mass, almost like Horn, made by pouring Spirit of Salt … on Crystals of Silver.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 33. One hundred parts of … salt, 235 parts of Luna cornua well dried.
1890. Abney, Photogr. (ed. 6), Silver chloride, known to them [alchemists] as Luna cornua.
3. More fully luna-moth: A large moth of North America, Actias luna, having crescent-shaped spots on the wings.
1884. Riverside Nat. Hist. (1888), II. 458. The luna moth, Actias luna, is unrivalled for loveliness and beauty.
