01.22.09 -- HEAD to HEAD

The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche, 1833

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Puzzle by Gary J. Whitehead, edited by Will Shortz

Six squares containing the shrunken word HEAD, or a glyph of same (or a rebus, if you will), along with the central across entry of SHRUNKEN HEADS (37A. Primitive trophies … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme) provide HEAD to HEAD amusement in this Thursday crossword -- and for good measure, the author’s name is Whitehead; who, dare I pun, appears unshrinking in his dedication to the heady world of crosswords.

The resulting entries across: EGG[HEAD] (10. Walking encyclopedia); [HEAD] FOR THE HILLS (20A. Split); [HEAD] TO TOE (33A. All over); RADIO[HEAD] (43. Alternative rock band with four platinum albums); DRAWBRIDGE A[HEAD] (54. Traffic sign that indicates a possible temporary road closure); [HEAD] END (66. Front).

Down: BIG[HEAD]ED (1. Macrocephalic); SWELL[HEAD] (9. Egoist); [HEAD] ON (13. One way to meet); [HEAD]CASES (45. Nut jobs); BE[HEAD]ING (49. Lady Jane Grey’s fate); AX[HEAD] (58. Chopping part of a chopper).

BRAINDEAD (34D. Unable to think at all) and EPISCOPAL (10D. Like a bishop’s authority) are the remaining longer entries, followed by two seven-letter entries, EWENECK (50A. Conformation defect in a horse) and PLACARD (24A. Picketer’s sign). Heading on, the six-letter entries include ACTUAL (42A. Genuine); BOSNIA (34A. 1990s war site); OLAFII (2D. Sainted king known as “the Fat”); OMAHAN (48D. Certain Nebraska native); STEELE (47D. English essayist Richard); ZEROES (3D. Numbers in the thousands?).

Five-letter -- AGLET (53D. Shoelace tip); CNOTE (18A. Benjamin); EASED (40D. Lightened); EATME (52A. Words on a Wonderland cake); EIEIO (23A. Refrain from singing in kindergarten?); EKING (64A. Managing, with “out”); ICONS (5A. Trash cans and such); 51D. KWIKE-Mart; NIECE (32D. Eleanor Roosevelt, to Teddy), NOHOW (15A. Opposite of someways); NOTIP (8D. Angry diner’s decision); OTERI (4D. “S.N.L.” alum); SEGUE (67A. Go from one number to another); SIREN (61A. Cause for pulling over); TOYOU (21D. “Happy birthday” follower).

Short stuff -- ANKA, ANTE and ANTS, ATAD, BOZO, BRIG, CONE, DEE, DIS, ELAN, ESTS, GAR and GARE, GHIA, GLO, HUT, ILET, INCH and INGE, IRON, LEHI, NEE, OHOH, PALO, PATE, RENU, ROTS, SOB, TENG, TNN and USN, XENA, YUAN.

And then, of course, there are all those SHRUNKEN HEADS!

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Schmo; 14. “How did ___ this happen?”; 16. Alto lead-in?; 17. Paris’s ___ de Lyon; 19. Wood alternative; 28. Zing; 29. Chinese dollar; 41. Karmann ___ (old Volkswagen); 46. Repair shop figs.; 47. Cry out loud; 58. Deal preceder; 65. Zest; 68. 100 18-Acrosses. Down: 5. Creep; 6. Gelato holder; 7. “Pick me! I know the answer!”; 11. Elongated fish; 12. Day-___; 25. Slightly; 26. Fails to keep; 27. It’s barely passing; 30. Seal’s org.; 31. “My Way” songwriter; 35. Things with antennas; 37. “Rich Man, Poor Man” novelist, 1970; 38. Lie low; 39. Wickiup, for one; 41. Test for M.A. seekers; 44. Done, to Donne; 55. Ship part; 56. Bausch & Lomb lens-care product; 57. Playwright William; 59. French word in some bios; 670. Former TV inits.