Maineites

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Residents or natives of the state located in the northeastern region of the United States known for its rocky coastline and forested interior
2. Individuals who live in or originate from the northeastern US state famous for maritime history and natural landscapes
3. People associated with the northeastern state recognized for its distinctive cultural identity and geographical features including lighthouses and pine forests

Etymology: "Maineite" is a rare, unofficial form. The usual name for a native or resident of the state is "Mainer." The ending "-ite" comes from Greek "-ites" through Latin "-ita," and English has long used it for inhabitants of a place, as in "Israelite" and "Muscovite." Applying it to a US state is a later analogy rather than an older pattern. The state's name comes from the French province of Maine, whose name traces back to the Cenomani, a Gaulish tribe. Their Latin-era capital, Cenomannum, became the city of Le Mans. Why the name was transferred to the American territory in the 1600s is uncertain, though the choice is generally attributed to the territory's early English proprietors.