0215-25 NY Times Crossword 15 Feb 25, Saturday

Constructed by: David P. Williams
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme: None

Bill’s time: 18m 32s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Weaving technique named after a city in the Levant: DAMASK

Damask was originally a weaving technique associated with the Byzantine and Islamic weaving centers of the Middle Ages. “Damask” comes from the name of Damascus, which was a major trading city at that time.

The Levant is the geographic region that lies east of the Mediterranean, covering modern-day Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt. The term is sometimes also used synonymously with the Near East. Syria and Lebanon, when under French rule, were called the Levant States, a name still used at times for the two nations. As one might expect, the word Levant comes from French and was the Middle French word for “the Orient”. The term was used for the Orient as it described lands to the east, where the sun rises (from “lever”, the French word meaning “to rise”). Really, quite interesting …

15 Big name in flatware: ONEIDA

Oneida Limited makes an awful lot of flatware, with operations all round the world. The company takes its name from Oneida, New York where the business started.

16 Pirate’s lack, stereotypically: VITAMIN C

Scurvy is a disease brought about by a lack of vitamin C in the diet. Famously, the disease was a focus in the navies of the world. Symptoms start to appear after a month with little or no vitamin C in the diet, and so scurvy was an issue that affected extended sea voyage. The Royal Navy surgeon James Lind proved in 1753 that scurvy could successfully be prevented and treated with citrus fruit.

18 Bit of attire supposedly named for its original bright red cloth: BLAZER

A blazer is a less formal version of a suit jacket, usually one with a less formal cut and often metal buttons. The original “blazer” was a red jacket worn by members of the rowing club at Cambridge University in England. The “blazer” is so called because the Cambridge version was “blazing red” in color.

19 Elba of “Hijack”: IDRIS

“H/JACK” is a thriller TV miniseries starring Idris Elba. He plays a passenger on a hijacked plane who takes on the task of negotiating a peaceful end to the incident. Great stuff …

20 Part of a fancy place setting: DOILY

There was a draper in London in the seventeenth century named Doiley, and he gave his name to the lace fabric that he sold. The fabric in turn gave its name to the ornamental mat that we call a “doily”. I can’t abide doilies …

24 Musician/composer Andersson of Abba: BENNY

I am an unapologetic fan of ABBA’s music. ABBA was the Swedish group who topped the charts in the seventies and eighties. The name ABBA is an acronym formed from the first letters of the given names of each of the band members: Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid. Early in their careers, the four fell in love and formed two married couples: Agnetha and Bjorn, and Benny and Anni-Frid. However, at the height of their success, the relationships became strained and both couples divorced.

25 Threads that are hard to find?: CAMO

Our word “camouflage” (often abbreviated to “camo”) evolved directly from a Parisian slang term “camoufler” meaning “to disguise”. The term was first used in WWI, although the British navy at that time preferred the expression “dazzle-painting” as it applied to the pattern painted on the hulls of ships.

27 Classic candy brand discontinued in 2018: CERTS

Certs were the first breath mints to be marketed nationally in the US, hitting the shelves in 1956. A Cert is called a mint, but it isn’t really as it contains no mint oil and instead has its famous ingredient named “Retsyn”. Retsyn is a mixture of copper gluconate (giving the green flecks), partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil (not healthy!) and flavoring (maybe mint?).

28 Things put into decks: TAPES

The French for “box” is “casse”. So, a “cassette” is a “little box”.

33 Solid red ball: THREE

One side (player) in a game of pool uses the “solid” balls, the other the “stripes”.

38 Paul who plays a little role in the Marvel Universe: RUDD

I think Paul Rudd is a very talented actor. He has played a variety of roles in movies but is probably best known on television for playing Phoebe Buffay’s boyfriend, and then husband, on the sitcom “Friends”.

In the Marvel universe, Ant-Man has been the superhero persona of three different fictional characters: Hank Pym, Scott Lang and Eric O’Grady. In the 2015 film “Ant-Man”, Michael Douglas plays Hank Pym, and Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang.

39 Small egg producer: QUAIL

“Quail” is a name used for several chicken-like wild birds. They are common prey for hunters.

Down

3 London and Budapest have had them since 1863 and 1896, respectively: METROS

The official name of the London “Underground” rail network is a little deceptive, as over half of the track system-wide is actually “over ground”, with the underground sections reserved for the central areas. It is the oldest subway system in the world, having opened in 1863. It was also the first system to use electric rolling stock, in 1890. “The Tube”, as it is known by Londoners, isn’t the longest subway system in the world though. That honor belongs to the Shanghai Metro. My personal favorite part of the Tube is the Tube map! It is a marvel of design …

6 Gold fish: KOI

Koi are fish that are also known as Japanese carp. Koi have been bred for decorative purposes and there are now some very brightly colored examples found in Japanese water gardens.

10 Comestible mentioned in “That’s Amore”: PIZZA PIE

“That’s Amore” is a pop standard written by Harry Warren and Jack Brooks in 1952. It became the signature song for Dean Martin after he sang it (with some help from Jerry Lewis) in the 1953 comedy film “The Caddy”. “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore …”

12 Traffic controllers?: NARCOS

“Narc” and “narco” are slang terms describing a law enforcement officer who tracks down criminals associated with illegal drugs. Both words are short for “narcotics officer”. Narcs might work for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

28 Bit of color: TINCT

To tinct is to add a little color to something. The term “tinct” ultimately derives from the Latin verb “tingere” meaning “to dye”.

32 Thimphu native: Var.: BHUTANI

The official name of the Kingdom of Bhutan is “Druk Yul” in the Sino-Tibetan language of Dzongkha. “Druk yul” translates as “the Land of the Thunder Dragon”. The Kings of Bhutan are referred to as “Druk Gyalpo” meaning “Dragon King”, and citizens of Bhutan are known as “Drukpa” meaning “Dragon people”.

35 ’00s: AUGHTS

An “aught” is a zero. The term can be used in the context of dates as in “the aughts”, the years 2000-2009. I’ve also heard those years referred to as “the noughties”.

36 Like shrimp étouffée: CREOLE

Étouffée is a Cajun and Creole dish made with shellfish, the most famous version being Crawfish Étouffée. Étouffée is like a thick shellfish stew served over rice. The dish uses the cooking technique known as “smothering” in which the shellfish is cooked in a covered pan over a low heat with a small amount of liquid. “Étouffée” is the French word “stifled, smothered”.

39 It may go across the board: QUEEN

I guess the queen in chess might be considered versatile because of the vast scope that it has in moves. It can move forwards and backwards, any number of squares. It can also move sideways, and diagonally.

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Weaving technique named after a city in the Levant: DAMASK
7 Straight-shooting: NO SPIN
13 “Pretty, pretty please?!”: I BEG YOU!
15 Big name in flatware: ONEIDA
16 Pirate’s lack, stereotypically: VITAMIN C
18 Bit of attire supposedly named for its original bright red cloth: BLAZER
19 Elba of “Hijack”: IDRIS
20 Part of a fancy place setting: DOILY
22 ___ Taylor, head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals starting in 2019: ZAC
23 Really bright: NEON
24 Musician/composer Andersson of Abba: BENNY
25 Threads that are hard to find?: CAMO
26 Letter that starts the most words in the dictionary: ESS
27 Classic candy brand discontinued in 2018: CERTS
28 Things put into decks: TAPES
29 “I feel bad enough already”: DON’T RUB IT IN
31 Disregard: NONCHALANCE
32 Go all in: BET THE RANCH
33 Solid red ball: THREE
34 Occupy, as a desk: SIT AT
35 That’s unreal!: ACT
38 Paul who plays a little role in the Marvel Universe: RUDD
39 Small egg producer: QUAIL
40 100%: PURE
41 Abbreviated ending: ETC
42 “Ya got me”: DUNNO
43 Wise guys: SAGES
44 1964 Hitchcock thriller: MARNIE
46 Quick pic: SNAPSHOT
48 New Year’s Day: ONE-ONE
49 Abandon, as plans: SCUTTLE
50 Plagued (by), as guilt: RIDDEN
51 Got the lead out?: ERASED

Down

1 Out of this world: DIVINE
2 Swallows: ABIDES
3 London and Budapest have had them since 1863 and 1896, respectively: METROS
4 Order from an impassioned drill instructor: AGAIN!
5 Sylvia ___, so-called “Grand Dame of British Cinema”: SYMS
6 Gold fish: KOI
7 In a grand style: NOBLY
8 Sole: ONLY
9 Salty drink: SEA
10 Comestible mentioned in “That’s Amore”: PIZZA PIE
11 Thoughtful types: IDEA MEN
12 Traffic controllers?: NARCOS
14 Here on earth: UNDER THE SUN
17 They beg to differ: CONTRARIANS
21 They cover top stories: INSULATIONS
24 Place for subs: BENCH
25 Whaler’s haul: CATCH
27 Giuseppe ___, 2010s-’20s Italian P.M.: CONTE
28 Bit of color: TINCT
29 Acted in a grandfatherly way, maybe: DOTED
30 Tired, in a way: BANAL
31 What solving a Saturday Times crossword might earn you, informally: NERD CRED
32 Thimphu native: Var.: BHUTANI
33 Ground-breaking event: TREMOR
35 ’00s: AUGHTS
36 Like shrimp étouffée: CREOLE
37 Tried out: TESTED
39 It may go across the board: QUEEN
40 Ribbons, but not medals: PASTA
42 Wine’s partner: DINE
43 Kick-start: SPUR
45 Silent approval: NOD
47 Stereotypical tattoo on a poker player’s arm: ACE