Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Puzzle by David Woolf / Edited by Will Shortz
IT AIN’T OVER UNTIL / THE FAT LADY SINGS (17A. With 57-Across, a die-hard’s statement), along with WALK-OFF HOMER (27A. Hit that proves 17-/57-Across) and BUZZER BEATER (45A. Shot that proves 17-/57-Across) constitute the interrelated group of this Tuesday crossword.
Other — FLOOZY (28D. Roxie n “Chicago,“ e.g.), JOGGER (25D. Pedometer wearer, maybe), Shoe designer MANOLO Blahnik, MIRIAM (9D. Moses’ sister), RICHARD III (30D. Shakespeare character who says “ have set my life upon a cast”), SHISH KEBAB (4D. Serving with a skewer), ZAFTIG (46D. Pleasingly plump).
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This usage of the word 'scruff' can be found in the Urban Dictionary but not in the regular dictionaries I checked. It isn't in the Short OED either. Perhaps the clue should have included (slang). Five o'clock shadow is a colloquialism or idiom so it didn't by itself hint at a slang usage.
ReplyDeleteMiriam Webster has a definition for SCRUFFY -- not neat, clean, or orderly. So I guess, it's a question of why no Y...
ReplyDeleteI should have noted that but also the Urban Dictionary's definition of scruff as a 3 to 5 day beard. Very specific slang reference. If it catches on, eventually it won't be slang.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I imagine they'll apply the same etymology as scruffy.
ReplyDelete"Urban Dictionary" is largely a product of several individuals with little else to do... perhaps even 99
ReplyDelete% of suggested wordage found there will never see the light of day and if it does most likely will disappear overnight.