Full record for needler n.

Definition	a weapon that produces a very narrow beam of energy; or, one who operates such a weapon
OED requirements	antedating 1937
Comment	Katrina Campbell submitted a cite from a 1985 reprint of Richard Meredith's "Run, Come See Jerusalem!" We would like to check the 1976 first edition. Ethan Merritt submitted a cite from a 1968 reprint of Andre Norton's "Star Hunter"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1961 first edition. Bill Snyder submitted a 1965 cite from H. Beam Piper's "Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen". Bill Snyder submitted a cite from a reprint of Keith Laumer's "Plague of Demons"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1964 first magazine appearance. Bill Snyder submitted a cite from a reprint of H. Beam Piper's "Police Operation"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1948 original magazine version. Mike Stone identified a cite in Eric Frank Russell's "Men, Martians and Machines"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1943 first magazine appearance. Stuart Gale submitted a cite from E.E. Smith's "Galactic Patrol"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1937 first magazine appearance. Enoch Forrester submitted a 1983 cite from David Brin's "Startide Rising".
Last modified	27 August, 2009

Citations for needler n.

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1937 E. E. Smith in Astounding Stories Sept. 23/1	‘Needlers, fire at will!’barked Kinnison, and even that feeble resistance was ended. Keen-eyed needle-ray men, working at spy-ray visiplates, bored hole after hole into the captive, seeking out and destroying the control-panels of the remaining beams and screens.
1948 H. B. Piper in Astounding Sci. Fiction July 14/1	A couple of policemen in green uniforms, with ultrasonic paralyzers dangling by thongs from their left wrists and holstered sigma-ray needlers like the one on the desk inside the dome, were kidding with some girls in vivid orange and scarlet and green smocks.
1948 H. B. Piper Police Operation in Astounding Sci. Fiction July 17/2	This chance acquaintance develops into a love affair, and a year later, out of jealousy, she rays you half a dozen times with a needler.
1953 G. O. Smith Stop, Look and Dig in Space Sci. Fiction Mar. 57/1	I came back with one of his needle-rays and burned the contents of the safe to a black char. I stirred up the ashes with the nose of the needler and then left it in the safe after wiping it clean on my handkerchief.
1961 ‘A. Norton’ Star Hunter 32	Chambriss carried a needler, Starns was unarmed except for a small protection stunner, his tri-dee box slung on his chest by well-worn carrying straps.
1961 A. Norton Star Hunter 33	Hume went forward, jerked the needler dart from a tree trunk. ‘But don't shoot again—not unless you are sure of what you are aiming at!’
1964 K. Laumer in Worlds of If Sci. Fiction Nov. 20/2	In a buttoned-down pocket, I found a 2 mm needler, smaller and lighter than the standard Navy model I normally carried.
1965 H. B. Piper Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen 13	He picked up a sigma-ray needler from the desk in front of him and holstered it.
1976 R. C. Meredith Run, Come See Jerusalem! (1985) 24	Fulford's eyes went back to the sheet of paper, reading it slowly, and while he did, his hand went to the needler stuck in his waistband; an old custom, going back to the days before the Lay Brothers of St. Wilson could afford holsters for their stolen weapons, was this habit of carrying a pistol in the waistband of his trousers.
1976 R. C. Meredith Run, Come See Jerusalem! 12	Another locker‥disgorged a long, ugly, ornately decorated 8.5mm Weatherby Magnum semiautomatic rifle‥and a snub-nosed 4mm Colt Special needler.
1983 D. Brin Startide Rising 386	He checked his weapon. The needler only had a few shots left.
1987 R. Rucker Wetware in R. Rucker Live Robots (1994) 340	‘Go away,’ said Della, showing him the needler attached to her belt.
1995 A. D. Foster Mid-Flinx 33	Both men drew compact needlers. ‘They're set to stun, and I don't think she's faster than a needle beam.’