Puzzle at a Glance
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Puzzle number in The Daily Telegraph
DT 29444 | |
Publication date in The Daily Telegraph
Monday, August 17, 2020 | |
Setter
Campbell (Allan Scott) | |
Link to full review
Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 29444]
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Big Dave's Crossword Blog review written by
Falcon | |
BD rating
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| Difficulty - ★★ | Enjoyment - ★★★ |
Falcon's experience
┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ | |
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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
█ - solved but without fully parsing the clue
█ - unsolved or incorrect prior to visiting Big Dave's Crossword Blog
█ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by solutions from Big Dave's Crossword Blog
█ - reviewed by Falcon for Big Dave's Crossword Blog
█ - yet to be solved
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Introduction
Solving the puzzle this time around was a strange experience — I completed the solve without recognizing it as a puzzle that I had reviewed on Big Dave's Crossword Blog! One might have thought that I would at least catch on when I came to the missing definition at 3d. But no, I duly noted the lack of a definition but did not remember the discussion that took place when the puzzle appeared in The Daily Telegraph in August.I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.
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.
| Markup Conventions | |
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| Click here for further explanation and usage examples of markup conventions used on this blog. | |
Across
| 1a | Bloomer // concealed by old Roman Catholic (6) |
"old " = O [linguistics]
In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
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In linguistics, O[12] is the abbreviation for Old ⇒ (i)
OFr[Old French]; (ii)
OE[Old English].
However, a second entry from this same source shows o (lower case) meaning old (not capitalized) suggesting that the use of this abbreviation may not necessarily be confined to the field of linguistics.
Another possibility arises from the British abbreviation OAP[5] standing for old-age pensioner.
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RC[5] is the abbreviation for Roman Catholic.
The definition is not — as I had once supposed — a whimsical Crosswordland definition* but, rather, a legitimate dictionary definition, a bloomer[10] being a plant that flowers, especially in a specified way ⇒
a night bloomer.
* like a river being defined as a flower (something that flows) or banker (something with banks)
| 4a | Sly character /in/ western given help by lawman, at first (6) |
Ease[5] is used in the sense of facilitate; in other words, to make (something) happen more easily.
| 8a | Keep cards /in/ rack each year close to Lent (5,3) |
P.a.[5] is the abbreviation for per annum (Latin for 'each year').
As evidenced by numerous comments on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, the solution is a North American term.
| 10a | Set fire to // fuel left out (6) |
Lignite[5] is a soft brownish coal showing traces of plant structure, intermediate between bituminous coal and peat.
| 11a | Minute // part of it in yolk (4) |
| 12a | Dutch after cup, // status symbol (6,4) |
Dutch[5] (usually one's old dutch) is an informal British term (especially among cockneys) meaning one's wife.
Origin: This is an example of Cockney rhyming slang (show explanation ). Dutch, an abbreviation for duchess, is believed to come from the
phrase "Duchess of Fife". Thus "wife" rhymes with "Duchess of Fife",
drop "Fife" leaving "duchess" which is abbreviated to "dutch".
A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church).
Cockney is also the name of the dialect or accent typical of cockneys, which is characterised by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang.
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.
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A cockney[5,10] is a native of East London [specifically that part of East London known as the East End[5]], traditionally one born within hearing of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow[7] church).
Cockney is also the name of the dialect or accent typical of cockneys, which is characterised by dropping the aitch (H) from the beginning of words as well as the use of rhyming slang.
Rhyming slang[5] is a type of slang that replaces words with rhyming words or phrases, typically with the rhyming element omitted. For example, butcher’s, short for butcher’s hook, means ‘look’ in cockney rhyming slang.
hide
| 13a | Got shirt messy in outhouse, // like Billy Bunter? (5-7) |
In Britain, an outhouse[5] is not an outside toilet but rather is a building such as a shed or barn that is built on to or in* the grounds of a house.
* note that Brits say "in the grounds" rather than "on the grounds"; they also say that a player is "in a team" rather than "on a team"
Billy Bunter[7] is a fictional schoolboy created by English writer Charles Hamilton (1876–1961) using the pen name Frank Richards. He features in stories set at Greyfriars School, originally published in the boys' weekly story paper The Magnet from 1908 to 1940. Bunter is in the Lower Fourth form of Greyfriars School whose members are 14–15 years of age [roughly 9th grade in North America]. His defining characteristic is his greediness and dramatically overweight appearance. He is also afflicted with poor eyesight, being short-sighted [British term for nearsighted].
* In Britain, a form[5] is [or, perhaps more correctly,was] a class or year in a school, usually given a specifying number. This is similar to the North America concept of a grade although the numbering system for forms and grades are vastly different. (show more )
The term "form" seems to have become passé as Miffypops in his review of DT 28163 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog refers to "sixth-former" as "What a schoolchild would be during the year before university back in the old days. This would now be known as year 13 or 14." Furthermore, Wikipedia (see table below) characterizes the term "form" as an "alternative/old name".
A form[7] is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title. Pupils are usually grouped in forms according to age and will remain with the same group for a number of years, or sometimes their entire school career.
Forms are normally identified by a number such as "first form" or "sixth form". A form number may be used for two year groups and differentiated by the terms upper and lower [in general, this would seem to apply primarily for the sixth form]. Usually the sixth form is the senior form of a school [although this apparently does not hold true for New Zealand where they would appear to have a seventh form]. In England, the sixth form is usually divided into two year groups, the lower sixth and upper sixth, owing to the 3-year English college/university system. In Scotland or North America, the 6th form is usually a single year, owing to the 4-year college/university system. If there is more than one form for each year group they will normally be differentiated by letters, e.g., "upper four B", "lower two Y". Schools do not follow a consistent pattern in naming forms [in the foregoing quotation witness Miffypops' reference to "year 14", a term which does not appear in the table below].
Wikipedia would appear to be at best ambiguous and at worst inconsistent on the relationship between the British and American systems of naming school years. The article from which the table below is excerpted shows that the British first form is equivalent to the American 6th grade. On the other hand, the article cited above states "In North America, the 1st Form (or sometimes 'Form I') is equivalent to 7th Grade." However, this latter statement may in fact be a comparison between the few North American schools to use the form system and the vast majority of North American schools that don't rather than a comparison between British and American schools.
hide
The term "form" seems to have become passé as Miffypops in his review of DT 28163 on Big Dave's Crossword Blog refers to "sixth-former" as "What a schoolchild would be during the year before university back in the old days. This would now be known as year 13 or 14." Furthermore, Wikipedia (see table below) characterizes the term "form" as an "alternative/old name".
A form[7] is a class or grouping of students in a school. The term is used predominantly in the United Kingdom, although some schools, mostly private, in other countries also use the title. Pupils are usually grouped in forms according to age and will remain with the same group for a number of years, or sometimes their entire school career.
Forms are normally identified by a number such as "first form" or "sixth form". A form number may be used for two year groups and differentiated by the terms upper and lower [in general, this would seem to apply primarily for the sixth form]. Usually the sixth form is the senior form of a school [although this apparently does not hold true for New Zealand where they would appear to have a seventh form]. In England, the sixth form is usually divided into two year groups, the lower sixth and upper sixth, owing to the 3-year English college/university system. In Scotland or North America, the 6th form is usually a single year, owing to the 4-year college/university system. If there is more than one form for each year group they will normally be differentiated by letters, e.g., "upper four B", "lower two Y". Schools do not follow a consistent pattern in naming forms [in the foregoing quotation witness Miffypops' reference to "year 14", a term which does not appear in the table below].
Wikipedia would appear to be at best ambiguous and at worst inconsistent on the relationship between the British and American systems of naming school years. The article from which the table below is excerpted shows that the British first form is equivalent to the American 6th grade. On the other hand, the article cited above states "In North America, the 1st Form (or sometimes 'Form I') is equivalent to 7th Grade." However, this latter statement may in fact be a comparison between the few North American schools to use the form system and the vast majority of North American schools that don't rather than a comparison between British and American schools.
Naming of School Years (British System vs American System)[7]
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| Age Range | British System | American System | |
| Name | Alternative/Old Name | Name | |
| 11-12 | Year 7 | First form | 6th grade |
| 12-13 | Year 8 | Second form | 7th grade |
| 13-14 | Year 9 | Third form | 8th grade |
| 14-15 | Year 10 | Fourth form | 9th grade |
| 15-16 | Year 11 | Fifth form | 10th grade |
| 16-17 | Year 12 | Lower sixth form | 11th grade |
| 17-18 | Year 13 | Upper sixth form | 12th grade |
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| 16a | Singer/'s/ bar number, by Otis Redding initially (7-5) |
A countertenor[5] (or counter-tenor[2]) is the highest male adult singing voice (sometimes distinguished from the male alto voice by its strong, pure tone).
Scratching the Surface
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| Otis Redding[7] (1941–1967*) was an American singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. * Redding, along with four members of his backing band, The Bar-Kays, died in the crash of his private plane en route to a concert. |
| 20a | Offend // stranger playing with small son (10) |
| 21a | Report /made by/ knight during case (4) |
"knight " = N [chess notation]
A knight[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a horse’s head, that moves by jumping to the opposite corner of a rectangle two squares by three. Each player starts the game with two knights.
N[5] is the abbreviation for knight used in recording moves in chess [representing the pronunciation of kn-, since the initial letter k- represents 'king'].
As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary defines:
On the other hand, both The Chambers Dictionary and the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary list K or K.[1,11] as an abbreviation for knight without specifying the specific context in which this abbreviation is used. However, the context may well be in an honours list rather than in a game of chess. In the UK, for instance, KBE[5] stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
hide
A knight[5] is a chess piece, typically with its top shaped like a horse’s head, that moves by jumping to the opposite corner of a rectangle two squares by three. Each player starts the game with two knights.
N[5] is the abbreviation for knight used in recording moves in chess [representing the pronunciation of kn-, since the initial letter k- represents 'king'].
As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Chambers 21st Century Dictionary defines:
- K[2] as an abbreviation used in chess for knight.
- K[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a king.
- N[2] is a symbol used in chess to represent a knight.
On the other hand, both The Chambers Dictionary and the Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary list K or K.[1,11] as an abbreviation for knight without specifying the specific context in which this abbreviation is used. However, the context may well be in an honours list rather than in a game of chess. In the UK, for instance, KBE[5] stands for Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
hide
| 22a | Pictures /of/ guys returning, arrested by US agents (6) |
| 23a | Want // Mark to face Manchester, say (8) |
Manchester could be a reference to either the urban community or to one of its football clubs.
- Manchester[5] is an industrial city in north-western England.
- Manchester City Football Club[7] (often referred to simply as City) is an English professional football [soccer] club, based in Manchester, that plays in the Premier League (the top level in the English football league system).
| 24a | Large insect // runs inside on the ground (6) |
"runs " = R [cricket notation]
As an anagram indicator, ground is used as the past tense or past participle of the verb grind[5]. An anagram indicator is typically a word that denotes movement or transformation. Grind denotes transformation, for example, in the sense of grain being ground into flour.
| 25a | Awful smell /coming from/ traps over by church (6) |
Down
| 1d | Totally // dismissed just claim (8) |
| 2d | Charlie with last of sticky // sweets (5) |
The solution seems to be almost a North Americanism. Sweets[5] is the British term for what is known in North America as candy[5] with a sweet being a piece of candy*.
* In Britain, candy[5] denotes sugar crystallized by repeated boiling and slow evaporation ⇒
making candy at home is not difficult—the key is cooking the syrup to the right temperature. I think this is likely what we call hard candy[5].
Thus, if I understand correctly, according to British usage, the word 'candy' denotes a particular type of sweet whereas the North American usage of the word is synonymous with the British term 'sweets'.
| 3d | I was introduced to American after seizing power (7) |
By broad consensus on Big Dave's Crossword Blog, this clue is lacking a proper definition. The entire clue serves as the wordplay in which is embedded what appears to have been intended as the definition ("power"). However, this is a clear violation of cryptic crossword convention.
| 5d | Tag // one article in English gym (7) |
Gym is used in the sense of a class at school.
PT[10] is the abbreviation for physical training[10], an old-fashioned term for training and practice in sports, gymnastics, etc, as in schools and colleges.
A tag[5] is a nickname or description popularly given to someone or something ⇒
Wild Child was a phrase created to describe her beloved twin, but Callie's lips curved slightly as she realised that Stacie was right, bookworm would be a better tag.
| 6d | One may help one escape from a trap (4,5) |
A sand wedge[5] is a heavy, lofted iron with a flange on the bottom, used for hitting the ball out of sand.
| 7d | Fire // escape (3,3) |
When I reviewed this puzzle in August, I was questioned about not marking this clue as a double definition. The reason is that the numeration for the second part is (3-3) which does not match that given in the clue.
As a noun, let-off[2,5] is an informal [seemingly British*] term for an escape or a lucky break ⇒
the team had two let-offs as shots rebounded to strike the defenders' legs.
* judging by the absence of the term from US dictionaries (based on the usage examples given by Lexico, I would say the term is well-used by British sportscasters)
| 9d | Insensitive, // albeit not as much following start of talks (11) |
| 14d | Storyteller /in/ court, near to collapse (9) |
| 15d | Highest score /is/ excellent (3-5) |
| 17d | Better // ahead overlooking station (7) |
| 18d | Resume // painting to support others (7) |
| 19d | Spectre /of/ international consumed by anger (6) |
| 21d | Meat // company breaking embargo (5) |
Key to Reference Sources:
[1] - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
[2] - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
[3] - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
[4] - TheFreeDictionarycom (Collins English Dictionary)
[5] - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (Oxford Dictionary of English)
[6] - Lexico (formerly Oxford Dictionaries Online) (Oxford Advanced American Dictionary)
[7] - Wikipedia
[8] - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
[9] - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
[12] - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)
[13] - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)
[14] - CollinsDictionary.com (COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)
[15] - CollinsDictionary.com (Penguin Random House LLC/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd )
Signing off for today — Falcon
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