◀  No. 6837 Jul 1985 Clue list No. 692  ▶

AZED CROSSWORD 688

CUCURBITAL

1.  R. J. Hooper: What makes ‘gourdy’ when defined by coot et al? (curb in cuit + al, & lit.; curb, disease of horses; coot2).

2.  K. Aaronovich: Like a squash cup? No power needed as long as your forearm’s about right (cu(P) + r in cubital).

3.  C. M. Edmunds: Badly swung club cut air, resulting in this fruity epithet (you won’t find it in my Chambers) (anag.; ref. misprint in 1983 C.).

VHC

D. Buxton: ‘Drunk in charge!’ Brutal copper still uses such fruity retorts (anag. incl. i/c and Cu).

J. H. Chinner: Like a retort made by two coppers heading for bench in complicated trial (Cu Cu + b in anag.).

C. A. Clarke: Like a squash club with a court to be rebuilt, one entering for nothing (I for 0 in anag.).

M. Earle: Akin to pumpkin or squash but not quite circular (anag. incl. circula(r), & lit.).

Dr I. S. Fletcher: Such as squash could be crucial – tubby by not participating otherwise? (anag. less by).

B. Greer: You can get court in a club for playing this on, like squash (comp. anag.).

G. Johnstone: Like Cinderella’s coach at midnight but with crucial changes? (anag.).

D. F. Manley: A wondrously built coach disintegrates, becoming only ——? O how sad! (comp. anag. & lit.; ref. Cinderella).

J. R. C. Michie: Swelling in Clydesdale’s ankle and a touch of lameness might be described as gourdy (curb in cuit a l; disease of horses).

C. G. Millin: Like melons, etc., roughly circular but not right (if you believe Chambers) (anag. less r).

J. J. Moore: Jock’s ankle, swelling inside, before long just like a loofah (curb in cuit + a. + l; a. = ante).

C. J. Morse: It’s circular and tube shaped, but tails off – like e.g. a cucumber (anag. less r e).

T. W. Mortimer: Swelling in ankle, first signs of Arab’s lameness – it’s ‘gourdy’ perhaps (curb in cuit + A l; disease of horses).

D. R. Robinson: Of about 18″ in length, pithy mainly inside – squashy, perhaps (like a marrow) (cur(t) in cubital).

L. Rogers: Burial chamber’s first cut and shaped like a gourd (anag. incl. c).

H. R. Sanders: Clubs organised a curl, but I like squash (C + anag.).

A. J. Shields: Thick-skinned but soft-hearted copper’s upset brutal Chief Inspector (Cu + anag. incl. CI).

E. W. Steel: Leg swelling in Jock’s ankle and middle of calf like a melon (curb in cuit + (c)al(f)).

J. F. N. Wedge: Like a squash court in a club for recreation? Not on (anag. less on).

HC

C. Allen Baker, W. G. Arnott, J. Baines, Mrs G. M. Barker, M. Barley, Mrs P. A. Bax, Mrs A. Blanchard, C. J. Brougham, J. M. Brown, E. J. Burge, Dr J. Burscough, C. J. & M. P. Butler, E. S. Clark, Capt D. A. Craddock, A. L. Dennis, J. Dromey, P. Drummond, O. M. Ellis, N. C. Goddard, I. F. & L. M. Haines, D. V. Harry, Mrs J. Hesketh, W. Jackson, A. Lawrie, J. H. C. Leach, H. R. Lockhart, P. B. Macdonald, M. A. Macdonald-Cooper, M. Mallett, H. S. Mason, H. W. Massingham, L. May, D. P. M. Michael, Dr E. J. Miller, T. J. Moorey, D. S. Nagle, F. R. Palmer, R. J. Palmer, S. L. Paton, W. H. Pegram, Mrs M. Pepin, E. W. Richart, E. R. Riddle, T. E. Sanders, W. J. M. Sanders, D. P. Shenkin, W. K. M. Slimmings, J. B. Sweeting, R. C. Teuton, R. W. Thompson, R. A. Wells, Mrs B. Wharf, M. G. Wilson, S. Woods, M. Woolf.
 

COMMENTS
Just under 400 entries, hardly any mistakes, except, that is, for the surprising mis-spelling of the clue-word in the 1983 edition of Chambers. Believe it or not, I hadn’t noticed this myself. Indeed I would probably have mentioned it or chosen another word to give you if I had. But most of you I think realised that the error was C’s, not mine.
 
Most of you who commented reckoned that the puzzle was easier than most but that CUCURBITAL was a brute to clue. One seasoned campaigner in desperation even asked for tips on my approach to clue-writing, her own submission being ‘Ultra-cubic? Not so.’ I couldn’t really accept this because although commendably brief and including a clever anagram of an awkward word the implied ‘& lit.’ definition is nowhere near precise enough, even if you accept the somewhat inadequate anagram indicator. Just think of all the adjectives which could mean not ultra-cubic’!
 
When I face a word to clue I am of course not concerned with winning a competition (and thus trying to anticipate popular ploys, etc.) but rather with producing something that will satisfy me and amuse you (in the broadest sense – not every clue can be a rib-tickler!). Then I try to recall whether I’ve clued the word before so that I can vary my approach. In this I rely on my memory since I’ve never had time to record each instance of a word clued. Memory is of course fallible but I always reckon that what applies to me applies also to you in this. In considering the clue itself I first assess the word as an arrangement of letters alongside its definition(s) to decide what clue-type will be most appropriate (bearing in mind the balance of clue-types that should be maintained in any one puzzle – not too many anagrams, etc.). Having (provisionally) decided this I then proceed to test its workability. Since every clue must contain a definition or the equivalent of a definition of the answer as well as a cryptic indication of that answer, the connection between the two parts is a vital consideration. And since a literal definition can be somewhat restricting (as for instance in the case of a specific technical term) it is worth considering ambiguity or allusion in the wording of definitions (the word ‘squash’ and the origin of Cinderella’s coach are just two examples of what might be done with CUCURBITAL). From then on it’s a question of tinkering with wording to achieve balance, economy and (often) wit, taking full advantage of English’s peculiar propensity for seeming to say one thing and mean another. A final word of advice: if what seemed at first a good idea stubbornly refuses to work well in practice without strained over-contrivance, be prepared to scrap it and start again. Stay flexible – and think of the solver!
 

 

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