Monday Prize Crossword on 14 September 2009
dd = double definition
cd = cryptic definition
rev = reversed or reversal
ins = insertion
cha = charade
ha = hidden answer
*(fodder) = anagram
An easy start to the FT week with Dante and his usual brand of smooth surfaces
ACROSS
1 TURNIP dd This was my last clue and I had to see Chambers to get “a large old-fashioned watch” as another meaning of turnip
4 FAVOUR dd
8 EGG-CUPS cd
9 FITTEST Cha of FIT (attack) TEST (examine)
11 PROPERTIES Cha of PROPER (correct) TIES (restrictions)
12 MARK dd
13 RASTA *(art as)
14 DEBONAIR *(on a bride)
16 FULL STOP cd
18 TAROT Ins of O (nothing) in TART (pie)
20 OHIO Ins of HI (greeting) in O-O (bespectacled)
21 PRESERVING P (parking) + *(reversing)
23 BALONEY dd
24 OFFENCE cd
25 TITHES Ins of THE in *(it’s)
26 AYE-AYE an arboreal squirrel-like nocturnal lemur of Madagascar, with very long thin fingers.
DOWN
1 TIGER Ins of G (middle letter of night) in TIER (row)
2 RECIPES *(precise)
3 IMPORTANT Ins of TAN (brown) in IMPORT (consequence)
5 ARIES cd alluding to the ram (butter)
6 OTTOMAN Chestnut dd
7 RESTRAINT Ins of TRAIN (transport) in REST (lie)
10 BIG DIPPER dd a roller-coaster at an amusement park (orig ); (with caps) the constellation of the Plough
13 ROUGHCAST Cha of ROUGH (disorderly) CAST (players)
15 BUTTERFLY dd Most of us will know the butterfly stroke and there is a comma butterfly (yellow with black marks resembling commas)
17 LOOK OUT dd
19 RIVIERA cd for that French resort where Nice is
21 PIECE dd
22 NACRE N (northern) ACRE (area) mother-of-pearl or a shellfish yielding it.