◀  No. 95 Clue list 13 Feb 1949 Slip image No. 97  ▶

XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 96

INTERLOCK

1.  Mrs B. A. Mallett (Lowestoft): If you want to get engaged, there are three occasions you have to shut up about (ter- in inlock).

2.  Miss R. Speight (Rugby): Tuck the curl well down below—and use a good grip! (i.e. inter lock2; interlock grip, golf).

3.  C. B. Joyner (Ringwood): A trial for boat-race crews, perhaps because it gives them a stitch (i.e. lock-to-lock; sewing-machine stitch).

H.C.

C. Allen Baker (Wishaw): Scarf—to knit securely: allow 50 plain in the middle and knit purl at both ends, then reverse (L in core in anag. of knit (all rev.); 2 defs.; scarf2 vt.).

D. Ashcroft (Fleetwood): Form close alliance—to dispose of the deadlock? (inter lock; dispose of the dead = inter).

Maj P. S. Baines (W11): Marry! Pope’s advice to Lord Petre and Miss Arabella Fermor when separated? (cryptic def.; ref. ‘Rape of the Lock’, written to allay quarrel).

Mrs F. Begg (Aberdeen): Composition of clinker to prevent ladders slipping—especially those of painters! (anag.; ladder-resistant hosiery; i.e. inter ‘locked’ in painters).

E. J. Colman (Pinner): Misfit? No, but yields one trick—50 (anag. incl. L; ref. bridge).

P. M. Coombs (Burgess Hill): Knit two together. To make up: link ends in crochet (anag. of link, cro(ch)et).

H. C. Hills (W. Drayton): Sexton’s work, on the hair clue, gets Tinker and the colonel entangled in a close grapple! (inter + lock, anag. of Tinker Col.; s. = one who inters, l. = clew of hair & ref. S. Blake).

H. J. Howells (Westcliff-on-Sea): Foundation material requiring well-mixed clinker to hold together firmly (anag.; foundation = underwear).

Mrs L. Jarman (Brough): How to make popular small-part pictures: introduce a body into plot, close-up (inter + lock; plot = grave; ref. jigsaw puzzle).

Miss M. Jenkins (SE23): Dovetail together, so as to let no trickle appear (anag.).

A. McIntyre (Edinburgh): How to engage hands for a Cotton Club swing session (cryptic def.; ref. interlock golf grip; Henry Cotton, golfer; NY jazz club).

T. W. Melluish (SE24): I’ll be put in a grave fix if you break the engagement (i.e. gives inter + lock when split).

R. M. Pitblado (Stirling): Type of hose which gives no trickle when burst! (anag.; ref. interlock hose stockings).

G. W. Pugh (Ferndown): Spread crushed clinker to obtain a good grip (anag.; ref. interlock golf grip).

W. O. Robertson (Marlow): Join Up! All the Unknown Warrior stands for is nullified in international deadlock (inter(national dead)lock; Unknown W. represents the nation’s dead).

O. Carlton Smith (Potters Bar): Dispose of the deadlock and lovingly embrace (inter lock; dispose of the dead = inter).

J. E. Smith Wright (W2): Fit tightly, as otherwise disposed to crinkle (anag.).

W. C. Tame (Hindhead): Sh! Leave the detective to piece things together; but he’ll need a bit of a hint ((h)int + (Sh)erlock).

A. H. Taylor (Peterborough): Staple product of Bury—close woven fabric (inter lock, 2 mngs., & lit.).

Miss D. W. Taylor (Sidcup): Knot tied, rice thrown (a pound in all)—embrace (L in anag. of knot rice).

W. H. Weightman (Harpenden): Plash with no trickle! (anag. & lit.; plash = interlock, of branches, etc.).

J. B. Widdowson (SE6): There is so close a fit here that no trickle can escape (anag.).

R. J. Worrall (Birmingham): The 10.51 crashed into a rock. To prevent further accidents, co-ordinate movement of points and signals (anag. of ten LI rock).

J. S. Young (SE21): In League Div. 1 Bury secure second place (i.e. 1. inter + 2. lock).

 

COMMENTS.—A good and accurate entry—381 correct, and there might have been more: about half the errors appeared to be errors of copying. Several solvers mentioned the “bait-wait” trap: this was quite unintentional, though I fully see its possibilities now!
 
There are long lists of H.C.s and runners-up, because the clues sent in for an uninspiring word seemed to me of unusually even merit, with nothing really outstanding. I am glad “Playfair” is popular with so many, but it should not, I think, become more frequent in its appearances: there are, and always will be, those who greatly prefer a less intricate puzzle. One every six to eight months seems about right. Many thanks for appreciative notes.
 
I am also glad the suggestion of a dinner is receiving a good response. I still don’t know what numbers are possible: I will ask Cdr. Dickson what he thinks about extending it more widely.
 
Runners-up.—E. S. Ainley, P. Barron, P. M. Bartley, Rev L. Blackburn, Capt F. B. Briggs, Maj H. L. Carter, F. A. Clark, G. H. Clarke, D. L. Clements, W. T. Clift, F. S. Danks, Cdr H. H. L. Dickson, J. H. Dingwall, F. E. Dixon, E. C. Double, J. Duffill, Brig W. E. Duncan, C. Eagle, M. G. Ellis, Mrs N. Fisher, C. E. Gates, S. Goldie, C. P. Grant, S. B. Green, Rev G. K. Hawes, N. Haycraft, Capt H. G. Jackson, J. Killick, C. Koop, R. H. Kuttner, A. F. Lerrigo, R. C. Macfarlane, C. R. Malcolm, E. L. Mellersh, D. P. M. Michael, F. E. Newlove, A. I. Oldaker, D. G. Owen, C. L. Paus, A. L. R. Perry, E. G. Phillips, G. H. Podmore, R. Postill, H. Rainger, M. R. Ridley, J. L. Ruddle, T. E. Sanders, E. O. Seymour, Mrs E. Shackleton, J. H. Sleeman, F. Smith, Rev H. M. Springbett, J. A. Stafford, R. G. Tate, C. M. Tatham, P. H. Taylor, J. Templeton, J. Thompson, L. W. Titman, D. R. Tivy, H. S. Tribe, Capt C. Tyers, J. Walton, E. Ward, R. Whittam.
 

 
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