Beelzebub 1,328

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A pretty challenging puzzle, I thought, particularly towards the left. I was left with a good few to confirm or even find in Chambers, and I’ve still failed to understand a couple.

The troublesome ones are 26 across and 23 down.

*=anagram, []=dropped, <=reversed. Hover to expand abbreviations.

Across
1 ABSQUATULATE – two definitions. An interesting US word that can mean essentially opposite things: to squat or to decamp.
11 SABURRA – A BURR in SA.
12 VENT – two definitions: an old word for “sale”, and an outlet.
13 LABOURER – LAB [t]OURER.
15 ILLTH – L in [f]ILTH.
17 ARTERY – [qu]ARTER + Y.
18 EXHAUST – US in (EX HAT).
19 FETAL – F + LATE<.
21 GAG-REIN – E in Uri GAG[a]RIN.
23 POCKY – COP< + KY.
24 ILLAPSE – LAPS in ILE. Corsica being a French island, and île being French for island.
26 REHEAT – That ship’s returning to take on board extra propulsion.
29 OCEAN – E in (O + CAN).
30 THEREOUT – |E in (THE ROUT).
31 LAWN – L + AWN.
32 ANIMATE – AN + I + MATE.
33 PAPER-STAINER – (SPARE PAINTER)*.
Down
1 ASLEEP – AS + PEEL<.
2 BAAS – SAAB<.
3 QUOTA – OT in QUA.
4 URUGUAY – U + RU + (A in GUY).
5 ARRIS GUTTER – ARRIS[h] + G + UTTER.
6 UNRAVELMENT – Maurice RAVEL in UNME[a]NT.
7 LAIR – [t]RIAL<.
8 TELETYPE – TELE + (P in YET*).
9 ENTRAP – (PART + [o]NE)<.
10 ETHYL – THY in EL.
14 ESTRICH – [p]EST RICH. Nice clue.
16 CHICHEWA – CHIC + HEW + A.
19 FILARIA – (AIR + A LIF[e])<.
20 TOECAP – (ACE IN POT)<.
22 YESTER – YES + TER[m].
23 PROLE – 13’s cut leg.
25 ADEMI – AD + EMI.
27 ANTE – A N[o]TE.
28 JUTE – JU[ga]TE. I spent a while trying to see why this was JU[s]TE, which it isn’t after all.

 

2 comments on “Beelzebub 1,328”

  1. Thanks Simon
    As you say, quite tricky in places (for once I didn’t complete a Beelzebub in a single sitting).

    26ac HER (that ship) reversed (returning) EAT (take on board)
    23dn PROLE[g] (cut leg)

  2. Happy to endorse it as challenging Simon.

    This is what my Sundays are all about.

    Much thanks to whichever one it was.

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