Tuesday, January 15, 2013 - DT 27011

Puzzle at a Glance

Puzzle Number in The Daily Telegraph DT 27011
Publication Date in The Daily Telegraph Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Setter Jay (Jeremy Mutch)
Link to Full Review Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 27011]
Big Dave's Review Written By scchua
Big Dave's Rating
Difficulty - ★+	Enjoyment - ★★★
Falcon's Performance ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's blog █ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's blog

Introduction

Jay gives us only a mild workout today.

Notes on Today's Puzzle

This commentary is intended to serve as a supplement to the review of this puzzle found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog, to which a link is provided in the table above.

9a   Recover one's senses and drop in (4,5)

Of course, I tried to enter COME AROUND and consequently ran out of spaces. Here is what Collins English Dictionary has to say about the use of around (North American usage) versus round (British usage):

In American English, around is usually used instead of round in adverbial and prepositional senses, except in a few fixed phrases such as all year round. The use of around in adverbial senses is less common in British English.^[4]

11a   On the way back, hurried one's drink (7)

A sidecar^[4] is a cocktail containing brandy with equal parts of Cointreau and lemon juice.

12a   Locks in canal at Cheshunt (7)

Cheshunt^[7] is a town in Hertfordshire, England [population 52,000 (2001 Census)]. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt. The town is located 13 miles (21 km) from Charing Cross [considered to mark the centre of London], making it one of the closest parts of Hertfordshire to Central London. I found no reference to Cheshunt actually being on a canal.

13a   Possible horrible environment for sailor (6)

In the Royal Navy, able seaman (abbreviation AB)^[5], is a rank of sailor above ordinary seaman and below leading seaman.

15a   Unusual find full of seldom-encountered radiation (8)

The National Post managed to mangle the clue slightly, causing it to appear as:

• 15a   Unusual find full of seldomen countered radiation (8)

The error is more difficult to pick up given that the clue is printed over two lines.

18a   Getting to every single home within the boundaries of Reading (8)

Reading^[7] is a large town [population 145,700 (2008 estimate)] in Berkshire, England, located 36 miles (58 km) west of central London.

26a   Overnight accommodation with time for student composition (5)

This style of clue has become virtually a signature for Jay. One should always be on the lookout for the "for" indicator when he is the setter.

The cryptic crossword convention of L meaning learner or student arises from the L-plate^[7], a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in various countries (including the UK) if its driver is a learner under instruction.

29a   Step up, for a bit of fear is erotic (5)

Mistaking "step up" to be an imperative statement (rather than a noun), I entered ARISE which severely impeded progress in the southeast corner until I realised the problem.

2d   A marine journalist with weapons (5)

The Royal Marines (RM)^[5] is a British armed service (part of the Royal Navy) that was founded in 1664, and trained for service at sea, or on land under specific circumstances.

4d   Slight case of remarkably liquid waste on the farm (6)

The solution to the clue is a suspension [and thus, by chemistry definition, is not a solution] of solid particles in a liquid. Collins English Dictionary includes manure among the possible constituents.^[4]

5d   Cooking two fish, including starter of dips (8)

A ling is any of a number of long-bodied edible marine fishes, in particular a large East Atlantic fish (Molva molva) related to the cod which is of commercial importance.

8d   Wants note emailed without contents before start of school (5)

In this clue, it matters where one inserts the mental brackets to mark the fodder. They must be placed around "note email". The wordplay indicator "without contents" operates on both of these words.

16d   In which the vicar takes the lead? (3,6)

In Britain, a lead^[5] is a strap or cord for restraining and guiding a dog or other domestic animal ⇒the dog is our constant walking companion and is always kept on a lead. The word leash^[5] (which would be more commonly used in North America) also seems to be used in the UK.

In this cryptic definition, one must interpret the first part of the clue to mean "in which the vicar [might be dressed]" (or, in other words, something that a vicar might wear).

19d   A meal that might be off, with side incomplete (4,3)

The British distinguish between afternoon tea and high tea, although both may be referred to simply as tea^[10]. Afternoon tea^[2,5,7,10] (or Low Tea) is a light afternoon meal, typically eaten between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm, at which tea, sandwiches, biscuits [British term for cookies] and cakes are served.

High tea^[7] (also known as meat tea) is the evening meal or dinner of the working class, typically eaten between 5pm and 7pm. It typically consists of a hot dish such as fish and chips, shepherd's pie, or macaroni cheese, followed by cakes and bread, butter and jam. Occasionally there would be cold cuts of meat, such as ham salad. Traditionally high tea was eaten by middle to upper class children (whose parents would have a more formal dinner later) or by labourers, miners and the like when they came home from work. The term was first used around 1825 and high is used in the sense of well-advanced (like high noon, for example) to signify that it was taken later in the day.

21d   Device putting suitable ruler under notice (7)

By tradition, the ciphers (monograms) of British monarchs use initials formed from the Latin version of their first name followed by either Rex or Regina (Latin for king or queen, respectively). Thus the cipher of Queen Elizabeth is ER^[5] — from the Latin Elizabetha Regina.

23d   Total of uranium found in oil deposit (3,2)

The symbol for the chemical element uranium is U^[5]. A sump^[3,4]. is the lower part of the crankcase of an internal-combustion engine, which serves as a reservoir for engine oil.

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon