Good fun from Monk this morning!
A few clues kept me pondering for a while, but overall a fun and accessible puzzle. The paired words on the grid’s edges form common terms when put together. Not sure if there is a further connection?
Many thanks to Monk!
A (area) + D (dies) + ULT (in the last month)
ULT is an abbreviation of ‘ultimo’, from Latin, used to mean ‘last month’
C (about) to cut (IN DUE TO)* (*false)
TD (Chad, country ISO code) imports E (European)
‘Ted’ in this context is a bit archaic – it is a verb meaning to spread/ted hay to dry it out
(REEL IN and CATCH)* (*fighting)
A rooster, originating in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, becoming a popular literary character
GARB (clothing) + LED (went first)
(IN< (<back) + H (hotel, NATO alphabet)) having EVEN< (just, <gone round)
ANAL (obsessed); (EC (Executive Committee) + DOT (25, i.e. from the clue numbered 25 here)) stops
EAT (worry) occupies [ar]MY (host, in the second half)
HI[t] (struck, mainly) + [lon]G [beac]H [suburb]S (trains in)
EDGE (crest) buried in (S (southern) + MOOR (heath))
[dat]A [transmissio]N (ultimately) + (NA (not available) after TEN (10))
PIOUS (sanctimonious) about TE (note)
(RI[sk] (50% of) + DOUBLED BY)* (*daftly)
IBO< (boxing association, <withdraws)
IBO: International Boxing Association
Obi: Japanese belt usually worn with a kimono
In MAY (one month); TERN (bird) has IT (sex)
AV (17th century bible) found in LEE (shelter)
AV is the ‘authorised version’ or King James version of the bible
([dis]H (‘s culmination) + RAGOUT + A + P[arsley] (touch of))* (*mixed with)
UNDER (falling short) before W (week) + EIGHT (8)
T (tense) + ICKLE (little, childish) + D (daughter)
Cryptic definition
I think we are looking at E for East, Afghanistan being a country (presumably) East of us
(AND GLUTEN)* (*nuts)
ARM (weapon) hidden in (CAN (jail) + U (uniform)) – on the contrary (i.e. flip the clue instruction so CAN + U are hidden in ARM)
[go]I[ng] [un]D[er] [ke]E[els] (essentially)
[dissertatio]N OR TH[esis] (only partly considered)
(O (nothing) in (SALVADOR [Dal]I (‘s latest) + O (old))* (*rubbish)
The Via Dolorosa is the path Jesus walked to his crucifixion
(N (unspecified number) IN + I (Italy)) following TOSCA (opera)
YORE (long ago) hosting (K (king) + HIS* (*new) + R (queen, Regina))
S (spades) + AND (also) + BAR (rod)
EST (‘is’ in France, i.e. French) + OR (Oregon) + IL (Israel)
A (American) + L (left) + BUM (worthless)
POD (group of pilots perhaps) + G[reed]Y (extremely)
Referring to pilot whales, with POD being the collective noun
DO (party) + T (time)
The northeast quarter was my Waterloo. Having confidently entered EEL for 7d didn’t help. ARCANUM, ESTORIL, TED & SEDGEMOOR were all new to me. I was unsure of ELAND — not my favourite clue.
All else fell into place and was enjoyed.
I hadn’t heard of a CHANTICLEER or the battle, but was able to figure them out from crossers and a little help from Google. I got excited when I spotted the two word phrases around the edges, but I don’t see any theme related to them.
Couldn’t parse HIGHS but I knew it was right from my Geography lessons many years ago.
Good fun from Monk today. The three letter clues were the trickiest. Nho OBI nor TED although IDE is an old favourite in crossword land.
Thanks Monk and Oriel for a model blog.
In 4d, ‘about’ = CA.
According to Chambers, CHANTICLEER is from Reynard The Fox not The Canterbury Tales.
Did Canterbury Tales for O Level . Chanticleer was a central figure in one of the tales.i think the Nun’s Priest’s.
SM. You’re correct but Chaucer borrowed the name from Reynard the Fox.
Thanks Monk and Oriel
12ac: I think this works as IN< (Back in) + HEVEN< (hotel, just = HEVEN, "having gone round" as the reversal indicator).
4dn: I think we can just take the E as indicating "in the eastern hemisphere", and not worry about the position relative to any solvers.
Thanks again to Monk for the solver friendly grid.