Thursday, November 4, 2010 (DT 26309)

Daily Telegraph Puzzle Number DT 26309
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Setter Ray T
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26309]
Big Dave's Review Written By Gazza
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ***	Enjoyment - ****

Introduction

I am now back home after nearly three fabulous weeks in Italy. During my sojourn there, I toured the Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompeii, Naples, Rome and then north to Tuscany - and encountered only two or three rainy days during that entire time. After the trip - and all the wining and dining on Italian cuisine - I have many fewer Euros but surely several more pounds.

I did miss the cryptic crosswords and am probably a bit rusty after not having done one in nearly three weeks. However, this one was very enjoyable and not overly taxing - a great way to get back into the swing of things.

I see that my prediction of the publication dates of puzzles seems to have been slightly off. I haven't yet had a chance to figure out if I made a miscalculation or if the National Post introduced a variation to the pattern.

Today's Glossary

Selected abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions appearing in today's puzzle

Appearing in Clues:

remove - [Collins English Dictionary] verb 1. to take away and place elsewhere [i.e., move]

wind up - [Collins English Dictionary] verb 9. British slang to tease (someone)

Appearing in Solutions:

A - abbreviation Adult [Note: the source cited also lists 150 other possibilities]

This abbreviation likely refers to motion picture rating systems. Although it would appear that an A category does not actually exist in the United Kingdom, such a category is used in most of Canada (excluding Quebec).

Albion - noun a literary term for Britain or England, often used when referring to ancient or historical times

B - abbreviation Britain [Note: the source cited also lists 91 other possibilities]

budge - [Collins English Dictionary] verb (usually used with a negative) 1. to move, however slightly: the car won't budge [compare the word remove above under the heading Appearing in Clues]

budgerigar - [Collins English Dictionary] noun a small green Australian parrot, Melopsittacus undulatus: a popular cagebird that is bred in many different coloured varieties; often (informal) shortened to budgie

le - French the

ti - noun Music (in tonic sol-fa) the seventh note of a major scale [Note: according to Oxford Dictionaries, the spelling ti is North American with the British spelling being te]

pp - abbreviation pianissimo, adverb & adjective Music (especially as a direction) very soft or softly

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

2d Dress encircling top of legs? (4)

This is an & lit. (or all-in-one) clue, a type of clue in which the entire clue can be read two ways - once as wordplay and once as a definition. As wordplay, one interprets the clue as KIT (dress) containing (encircling) L (top of legs; i.e., the first (top) letter of the word "legs", it being a down clue). As a definition, a kilt is a form of dress (which one can likely read in either the general or specific sense of the word) that encircles only the top of the legs, as it generally reaches only the region of the knees.

In Britain, the word kit can signify "the clothing used for an activity such as a sport: e.g., a football kit" or kit can mean "clothes in general" (see commentary for clue 5d), the latter being a connotation that I believe would not generally be encountered in North America. Here, the word can mean "a collection of clothing and other personal effects used for travel" or "a container, such as a bag, valise, or knapsack, for storing or holding such a collection" [American Heritage Dictionary], a definition which is similar to "clothing and other personal effects, esp those of a traveller or soldier" found in Collins English Dictionary.

5d Remove kit with a redhead bird (10)

It's a pity that the slightly naughty surface reading of this clue will likely go right over the head of many North Americans. In British slang, the phrase get one's kit off (or, presumably, remove kit) means 'to remove one's clothes, especially prior to sexual intercourse' and bird is British slang (often considered offensive) for 'a girl or woman'.

The definition here is "bird", with the wordplay being a charade of BUDGE (remove; both words used in the sense of 'to move') + RIG (kit) + A + R (redhead; i.e., the first (head) letter of "red").



In the cryptic reading, rig and kit may be used in the sense of clothing, although (judging from entries in several British dictionaries) this usage for the word rig may be less common in the U.K. than in North America. We find rig defined as an informal term for 'a costume or an outfit' in the American Heritage Dictionary and as 'a person's costume, outfit, or style of dress' in Oxford Dictionaries Online. However, this sense of the word does not appear in either Collins English Dictionary or Chambers.

In the cryptic reading, kit could be used in the sense of 'a set of articles or implements used for a specific purpose' [American Heritage Dictionary] or 'a set of tools, supplies, construction materials, etc., for use together or for a purpose' [Collins English Dictionary] and rig in the sense of 'special equipment or gear used for a particular purpose' [American Heritage Dictionary] or 'apparatus or equipment; gear' [Collins English Dictionary].

However, thinking of the clue in the sense of clothing is so much more satisfying, don't you think?

18d She enjoys taking off on her holidays! (8)

I am sure I would have enjoyed seeing the picture that originally illustrated this clue on Big Dave's site - one that seems to have subsequently been removed. It drew favourable comments from several among the male readership but perhaps a somewhat less approving response from the female readership ("Nice photo for the fellas!!").


Signing off for today - Falcon