12.16.19 -- Heads/Tails




Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz

Two groups of interrelated entries are the main feature of this Wednesday crossword:


HEAD (10D. Apt attachment to the starts of 14-, 17-, 35- and 43-Across) along with BOARD GAME (14A. Othello, for one), LAND GRANT (17A. Help for a pioneer), ROOM KEY (35A. Offering from the front desk) and STONE DEAF (43A. Unable to hear), e.g., headboard, headland, headroom, headstone.


TAIL (51D. Apt attachment to the ends of 30-, 37, 59- and 62-Across), GUINEA PIG (30A. Experiment subject), RED PONY (37A. Classic Steinbeck story, with “The”), POLO SHIRT (59A. T-shaped pullover) and SPONGE BOB (62A. Animated TV character with buck teeth), e.g., pigtail, ponytail, shirttail, bobtail.


Continuing along, ERROR PRONE (11D. Likely to slip) and LEO TOLSTOY (29D. “The Cossacks” novelist) are the other long entries, followed by two of seven letters, OMNIBUS (7D. Volume of reprints) and WALLOPS (41D. Heavy blows).

Six-letter -- ARPELS (31D. Partner of jeweler Van Cleef), CON MEN (23D. Swindlers0, EDGERS (5D. Lawn cutters), EERIER (20A. More unearthly), ELAPSE (45D. Slide away), ON A LOG (13D. How a bump may appear), 52A. Paris’s PALAIS Garnier), PASS GO (46D. Round a corner in Monopoly), PETER I (8D. Half brother of Ivan V), 12D. Hoi POLLOI, RANGED (21D. Varied), SENDUP (33D. Parody), SEVERS (43D. Cuts off), TEASEL (44D. Prickly plant).


Five -- ALGAE (1A. Fish tank buildup), 18A. French first lady CARLA Bruni-Sarkozy, ESTAB (57A. Foundation abbr.), HALOS (27A. Symbols of goodness), HERON (16A. Leggy wader), OMENS (65A. Important signs), PLEAS (46A. Answers in court), REOIL (61A. Do a lube job on), SLYLY (63A. How an April fool may be done), THE PO (9A. It flows through Turin).

Short stuff -- ABLE, ADO, ALOT, ARD, BLY, BRAD, CRY, DEAD, DOLL, EDEN, EEL, ENG, ENID, EST, GANG, GARR, GAY and GREY, HEM and HER, JIBE, JLO, KEEP, LAS, LION and LOAN and LRON, NIA, OTBS, PAAR, POP, PULL, REF, ROO, SAS, TEEN, THC, VAST, WED, YDS.


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Remaining clues -- Across: 6. Go off; 19. H.S. course; 22. Real looker; 23. Alan Paton’s “___, the Beloved Country”; 24. Thin nail; 26. Milne hopper; 32. Fall site; 33. Flier to Stockholm; 34. “Dumb and Dumber” actress; 40. First-time driver, often; 41. United; 42. Geraint’s love, in Arthurian legend; 47. Frog predator; 48. Influence; 49. ___ Palmas, capital of the Canary Islands; 50. Boundless; 54. Four-time platinum album of 2001; 64. Guinness suffix. Down: 1. Proficient; 2. ___ shark; 3. What a tattoo may identify; 4. Dull finish?; 6. Subject of the documentary “Smart Television”; 9. Active ingredient in marijuana: Abbbr.; 15. Dull, as London skies; 25. No more; 27. The Beatles’ “And I Love ___”; 28. Stir; 30. Like apparel donned in a Christmas carol; 36. Not give up; 37. Foul caller; 38. Actress Vardalos; 39. Gridiron stat: Abbr.; 49. Brave one; 53. Oceans; 54. Be in accord; 55. ___ Hubbard; 56. Gambling venues, briefly; 58. Crusading journalist Nellie; 60. Do some tailoring.



2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is the G highlighted for a reason, e.g., LANDGRANT?

DONALD said...

Oversight.