0222-24 NY Times Crossword 22 Feb 24, Thursday

Constructed by: Dan Schoenholz
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme (according to Bill): Great Clues, Initially

Themed clues each sound like a word preceded by a letter. Themed answers are each clued by those words, and start with the preceding letter:

  • 17A *Ensign : NO PARKING (N – Sign)
  • 25A *Emirate : MAD AS HELL (M – Irate)
  • 39A *Arbiter : RATTLER (R – Biter)
  • 50A *Depot : DUTCH OVEN (D – Pot)
  • 61A *Begin : BEEFEATER (B – Gin)

Bill’s time: 10m 02s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Hot topping for a cone? : LAVA

Lava is a phenomenon that results from the eruption of magma from a volcano. Depending on the type of lava and the volcano it comes from, lava can reach temperatures of up to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit (1,200 degrees Celsius). That’s hot enough to melt steel …

5 Practical joke : JAPE

“To jape” means “to joke or quip”. The exact origins of “jape” are unclear, but it does seem to come from Old French. In the mid-1600s, “to jape” was a slang term meaning “to have sex with”. No joke …!

9 Tricky billiard shot : MASSE

In billiards, a massé shot is one in which the cue ball makes an extreme curve due to the player imparting heavy spin on the ball with his or her cue held relatively vertically. Some pool halls don’t allow massé shots as there’s a risk of ripping the cloth covering the table.

15 Ensconced in : AMID

To ensconce oneself, one settles securely or comfortably somewhere. Back in the late 1500s, “to ensconce” meant “to cover with a fort” as a “sconce” is a small defensive fort or earthwork.

16 Asian dog breed : AKITA

The Akita breed of dog is named for its point of origin, Akita Prefecture in Japan. When Helen Keller visited Japan in 1937, she asked for and was given an Akita breed of dog, with the name of Kamikaze-go. Sadly, the dog died within a year from distemper. The following year the Japanese government officially presented Keller with a replacement dog. Supposedly Keller’s dogs were the first members of the breed to be introduced into the US.

19 Rich sources of beta carotene : KALES

Carotene is an orange pigment that plants use in the process of photosynthesis. Carotene gives carrots their orange color, and it is carrots that give the pigment its name. “Carota” is the Latin for “carrot”. Carotene is found in nature in two structural forms: alpha-carotene and the more common beta-carotene.

20 Joint : DOOBIE

The term “joint” has a long history in the drug world. It originally came from French, in which it is the past participle of the word for “to join”. It became an Anglo-Irish term for a side-room “joined” onto a main room in the early 1800s. Towards the end of the 19th century it was US slang for a small, shady establishment, such as an opium den. By the 1930s a joint was a hypodermic needle used to inject heroin, and soon after became the term for a marijuana cigarette.

21 One of millions in New Zealand : EWE

The first European to sight the nation that we know today as New Zealand was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. He labeled the land “Staten Landt”, believing it to be part of South America. Dutch cartographers changed the name to “Nova Zelandia”, after the Dutch province of Zeeland. That Latin name evolved into the Dutch “Nieuw Zeeland”, which Captain James Cook anglicized to “New Zealand”.

23 Migration pattern? : VEE

Apparently, birds that fly in a V-formation do so for a couple of reasons. One is that it makes for efficient flight and conserves energy. The leading bird gets no advantage, but every following bird gets to “slipstream” a little. It has been noted that the lead bird drops to the back of the formation when he/she gets fatigued. It’s also thought that the flock can stick together more easily when in formation, so it is more difficult to lose someone along the way.

28 Coup planners : CABAL

A cabal is a small group of plotters acting in secret, perhaps scheming against a government or an individual. The use of “cabal” in this way dates back to the mid-1600s. It is suggested that the term gained some popularity, particularly in a sinister sense, during the reign of Charles II in the 1670s. At that time, it was applied as an acronym standing for “Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale”, a group of ministers known for their plots and schemes.

31 ___ Valley : NAPA

Napa Valley in California is home to over 400 wineries, the first being established in 1858. Napa is also home to over 100 different grape varieties, the most popular being Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.

34 Singer Williams who founded the Temptations : OTIS

The Temptations singing group used to be known as the Elgins, and was formed in 1960 in Detroit. The group is still performing today, although only the second tenor, Otis Williams, was part of the original quintet. The Temptations were very much associated with their “sister group”, the Supremes.

38 Pre-med pre-req : BIO

Biology (biol.) is a science (sci.).

39 *Arbiter : RATTLER (R – Biter)

The scales covering the tip of a rattlesnake’s tail are made of keratin, the same structural protein that makes up the outer layer of human skin, as well as our hair and nails. The rattlesnake shakes its tail vigorously to warn off potential predators, causing the hollow scales to vibrate against one another and resulting in that scary “rattle” sound. The rattler’s tail muscles “fire” an incredible fifty times a second to achieve that effect, demonstrating one of the fastest muscular movements in the whole animal kingdom.

41 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, e.g. : DUO

The Old West train and bank robber Robert Parker was better known by the name Butch Cassidy. His partner in crime Harry Longabaugh was known as the Sundance Kid. Famously, the exploits of Butch and Sundance were reenacted in the marvelous 1969 film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”.

50 *Depot : DUTCH OVEN (D – Pot)

A Dutch oven is a cooking pot with a tight lid, usually made from cast-iron. Back in Ireland we call them casserole dishes.

57 Figure in I Samuel : ELI

In the Bible, Eli is a High Priest of Shiloh and the teacher of Samuel. As such, his story is told in the Book of Samuel. Eli had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, both of whom are described as wicked. As a result of their wayward lifestyle, it is prophesied that all of Eli’s male descendents will die before reaching old age.

58 Issuance from an American embassy, in brief : US VISA

A visa is usually a stamp in one’s passport, an indication that one is authorized to enter (and less often, to exit) a particular country. The word “visa” comes into English, via French, from the Latin expression “charta visa” meaning “paper that has been seen”, or “verified paper”.

59 Discombobulated : AT SEA

To discombobulate is to faze, disconcert, to confuse.

61 *Begin : BEEFEATER (B – Gin)

Beefeater Gin is a brand of spirit from the UK. Predictably, there is a Yeoman Warder (beefeater) on the label.

66 Actor Woo-shik of “Parasite” : CHOI

Choi Woo-shik is a Canadian actor who was born in South Korea. His most memorable role has to be the lead character Kim Ki-woo in the Oscar-winning movie “Parasite”.

“Parasite” is a 2019 comedy thriller movie from South Korea that became the nation’s highest-grossing film of all time. It was also the first movie not filmed in English to win the Oscar for Best Picture. I haven’t seen “Paradise” yet, but I hear great things from friends and family who have …

Down

4 Most-grown coffee bean in the world : ARABICA

The species Coffea arabica is thought to be the first plant cultivated for coffee. Today, 75-80% of the world’s coffee comes from Coffea arabica.

5 Copacetic : JAKE

Both “jake” and “dandy” are slang words meaning “fine”, as in “things are just dandy”.

Something described as copacetic is very fine, very acceptable.

6 Bon ___ : AMI

In French, a male friend might be described as a “bon ami” (good friend).

7 Exemplar of neatness : PIN

Apparently, the idiom “neat as a pin” arose in the early 1800s, with the advent of mass production. Up until that time, pins were handmade and so were irregular and relatively flawed. Mass-produced pins were uniform and of consistent quality. So, something that was uniform and of consistent quality came to be described as “neat as a pin”.

12 Staple of Trinidadian music : STEEL DRUM

Steel drums (also “steelpans”) are musical instruments that originated in Trinidad and Tobago. They were an evolution of similar drums made using bamboo. That evolution started in the early 1940s, when the base material for the drums became 55-gallon oil drums.

13 Plein-air prop : EASEL

The act of painting outdoors in daylight is described as “en plein air”, which is French for “in the open air, outdoors”.

18 Kelly of morning talk : RIPA

When Kelly Ripa secured the co-host spot on morning television with Regis Philbin, she was still acting in “All My Children” in a role she had been playing for over ten years. After a year of holding down two jobs, she eventually gave up the acting gig. Ripa has acted as spokeswoman for several brands over the years, including Electrolux and Rykä.

27 First part of a triple jump : HOP

The track and field sport sometimes called the “hop, skip and jump” is more correctly termed “triple jump”. The triple jump dates back as an event to the ancient Olympic Games. When the modern Olympics were introduced in 1896, the triple jump consisted of two hops on the same foot followed by a jump. Today’s triple jump consists of a hop, a bound and then a jump.

29 Stole from a burlesque act : BOA

The word “burlesque” came into English from French, although the word is rooted in the Italian “burla”, the word for a joke, or mockery. A burlesque is a work of literature, drama or music that is intended to amuse and cause laughter. Burlesques in the US took on a variety show format and were popular in the US from the 1860s. Over time, the variety acts started to include female striptease, and the term “burlesque” has come to be mainly associated with such entertainment. The derivative verb “to burlesque” means “to imitate mockingly”.

32 It’s never out of tune : AIR GUITAR

The concept of playing an imaginary electric guitar (an “air guitar”) is so popular that there are several championship competitions held. There has even been a world championship since 1996. Crazy …

33 Anathema to an aesthete : POOR TASTE

Anathema is a source of persistent annoyance. “Anathema” is the Latin word for an excommunicated person. Note that “anathema” does not take an article, so we say “he is anathema” rather than “he is an anathema”.

An aesthete (also “esthete”) is someone who appreciates beauty in art or in nature. Often someone described as an aesthete might show excessive or affected admiration of beauty.

45 Implied right in the First and Fourth Amendments : PRIVACY

The Constitution of the United States was adopted on September 17, 1787. There have been 27 amendments to the constitution, the first ten of which are collectively called the Bill of Rights. In essence the Bill of Rights limits the power of the Federal Government and protects the rights of individuals. For example, the First Amendment states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution deals primarily with the prohibition of unlawful searches and seizures. It is because of the Fourth Amendment that evidence obtained illegally cannot be introduced into a criminal trial.

47 Big star, in Spain : SOL

In Spanish, “el sol” (the sun) rises in the “este” (east).

49 If-then-___ (programming construct) : ELSE

In the world of computer programming, an “if-then-else” construct is a type of conditional statement. The idea is that IF a particular condition is met THEN a particular action is executed. The additional ELSE statement can be used to define an alternative action.

53 Church offering : TITHE

Traditionally, a tithe is a payment of one tenth of a person’s annual income and is usually given to a church. Tithing is a practice taught in many traditions, and according to a 2002 survey, about 3% of American adults donate 10% or more of their income to a church.

55 2024 Olympics site : PARIS

When Paris hosts the Summer Olympics in 2024, it will become only the second city to host the Olympics three times (London hosted in 1908, 1948 and 2012).

58 Focus of the U.S.A.F.’s Project Blue Book (1952-1969) : UFOS

In 1952, the USAF revived its studies of reported sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in a program called Project Blue Book. Project Blue Book ran from 1952 until it was shut down in 1969 with the conclusion that there was no threat to national security and that there were no sightings that could not be explained within the bounds of modern scientific knowledge.

63 ___ white : EGG

“Albumen” is the technical name for egg white.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Hot topping for a cone? : LAVA
5 Practical joke : JAPE
9 Tricky billiard shot : MASSE
14 Way off : AFAR
15 Ensconced in : AMID
16 Asian dog breed : AKITA
17 *Ensign : NO PARKING (N – Sign)
19 Rich sources of beta carotene : KALES
20 Joint : DOOBIE
21 One of millions in New Zealand : EWE
23 Migration pattern? : VEE
24 Lose one’s shirt, say : STRIP
25 *Emirate : MAD AS HELL (M – Irate)
28 Coup planners : CABAL
30 Ensiform, adj.: Shaped like a ___ : SWORD
31 ___ Valley : NAPA
34 Singer Williams who founded the Temptations : OTIS
36 Split up : APART
38 Pre-med pre-req : BIO
39 *Arbiter : RATTLER (R – Biter)
41 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, e.g. : DUO
42 Came to pass : AROSE
44 Bibliographer’s abbr. : ET AL
45 Ceremony : POMP
46 They’re typically older than seniors : GRADS
48 One in it for the long haul : LIFER
50 *Depot : DUTCH OVEN (D – Pot)
52 Put on a big smile : LIT UP
56 ___ Formosa (barrier island system of Portugal) : RIA
57 Figure in I Samuel : ELI
58 Issuance from an American embassy, in brief : US VISA
59 Discombobulated : AT SEA
61 *Begin : BEEFEATER (B – Gin)
64 Meant to be : FATED
65 “And so …” : ERGO …
66 Actor Woo-shik of “Parasite” : CHOI
67 Long hauls : TREKS
68 Doesn’t stay tight : SAGS
69 Hankerings : YENS

Down

1 Scores : LANDS
2 Underway : AFOOT
3 Steamy stuff : VAPOR
4 Most-grown coffee bean in the world : ARABICA
5 Copacetic : JAKE
6 Bon ___ : AMI
7 Exemplar of neatness : PIN
8 Barely defeated : EDGED
9 Launches an attack : MAKES WAR
10 Going by, in brief : AKA
11 Chevy truck since 1998 : SILVERADO
12 Staple of Trinidadian music : STEEL DRUM
13 Plein-air prop : EASEL
18 Kelly of morning talk : RIPA
22 “Time ___ …” : WAS
25 Nonreflective, in a way : MATTE
26 Not too much : A LITTLE
27 First part of a triple jump : HOP
29 Stole from a burlesque act : BOA
31 With 50-Down, annual June sports event : NBA …
32 It’s never out of tune : AIR GUITAR
33 Anathema to an aesthete : POOR TASTE
35 Cut down : SLAIN
37 Surpass : TOP
39 What some people are dyeing to be? : REDHEADS
40 Puckish sort : ELF
43 ___ fly : SAC
45 Implied right in the First and Fourth Amendments : PRIVACY
47 Big star, in Spain : SOL
49 If-then-___ (programming construct) : ELSE
50 See 31-Down : … DRAFT
51 Things one might pick up while entering a room : VIBES
53 Church offering : TITHE
54 Apply to : USE ON
55 2024 Olympics site : PARIS
58 Focus of the U.S.A.F.’s Project Blue Book (1952-1969) : UFOS
60 “Yikes!” : EEK!
62 Time to remember : ERA
63 ___ white : EGG