Listener Crossword 4214: Solution Notes
A Noted Performance by Nutmeg
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle is based on the traditional nursery rhyme The Grand Old Duke of York. In keeping with the second stanza, the down answers are entered up (6 entries), down (6), half up then half down (4) or half down then half up (6). THE DUKE OF YORK appears in the NW-SE diagonal.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| No | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Across | ||
| 11 | SHEEN | SEEN around H |
| 12 | LOCKER | LOCK-KEEPER − KEEP |
| 14 | ERECTERS | ERE + CT + ERS |
| 15 | WELDED | WIELDED − I |
| 16 | BETAINE | ATE < in BINE |
| 18 | EULACHON | (H + CLUE) < around A + ON |
| 19 | REMARKS | RES around MARK |
| 21 | GRAND | 2 meanings |
| 22 | TSAR | RA(ci)ST < |
| 23 | TAELS | STEAL * |
| 24 | EBBS | E + BB + S(ite) |
| 26 | SEDAN | SAN around ED |
| 28 | LOFTIER | (O + FT) in LIER |
| 31 | IN GREMIO | (MORE GIN) * after I |
| 33 | LANUGOS | (GNU with first letter moved to end) in LAOS |
| 35 | GOYLES | GARGOYLES − GAR |
| 36 | CANE-TOAD | (TO DANCE + A) * |
| 37 | OLD MAN | (TOLD − T) + MAN |
| 38 | NITRE | (u)N(d)I(s)T(u)R(b)E(d) |
| 39 | BATTLE ROYAL | (RALLY TO BEAT) * |
| Down | ||
| 1 | RAWEST | WATERS * |
| 2 | THRENES | THREES around N |
| 3 | HEELS | homophone of HEALS |
| 4 | UNTRUE | RUE after (h)UNT |
| 5 | SEEDCAKE | CEASED * + K(nav)E |
| 6 | AIRBUS | SUBMARINE * − MEN * |
| 7 | DOG TAGS | GOD < + TAGS |
| 8 | KEPI | (sna)KE-PI(t) |
| 9 | PENNON | PENN around NO |
| 10 | FRIENDS | (I + ENDS) after FR |
| 13 | CALCRETE | LAC < + CRETE |
| 17 | PARAMOUR | PUR(e) around AROMA * |
| 20 | FLOORING | (LINO + G + FOR) * |
| 22 | ZOILIST | ZO + I + LIST |
| 23 | TANGENT | TAN GENT |
| 25 | BEPEARL | EARL after (B + EP) |
| 27 | ENABLE | BANE < + LE |
| 28 | SILAGE | SAGE around I’L(l) |
| 29 | ONE-OFF | ONE + OFF |
| 30 | RISKED | RI + SK(i)ED |
| 32 | ATOLL | TO in ALL |
| 34 | ADEN | (abro)AD EN(glishmen) |