7 Common Crossword Words And Clues
Seven words that keep turning up in crosswords, what they mean, and how to read a clue without being misled.
Despite being a fun pastime with a rich history, the crossword puzzle game remains one of the most baffling games around. With an almost limitless supply of words, from archaic terms to little-known places, every grid has a few head-scratchers. However, some words turn up again and again.
7 commonly used crossword puzzle words and their clues
1. AIGRETTE: a spray of feathers or gems worn on a hat or in the hair. No longer a fashion item, it remains a common crossword head-scratcher.
2. EWE: a female sheep. Short words full of vowels like this are crossword favourites, and it is often clued with a pun on "you".
3. FLYSCH: a sedimentary deposit of shale or marl with sandstone, common in the Alpine region of Europe.
4. KILIM: a flat-woven reversible rug without a pile, made in Turkey, Kurdistan, Iran and neighbouring regions.
5. RADIATOR: a device that keeps a vehicle engine cool, or that heats a room.
6. TREBUCHET: a medieval siege engine that used a counterweight to hurl heavy stones. Today the name is also familiar from the Trebuchet MS typeface.
7. VOYAGEUR: a man employed by a fur company to transport goods to and from remote trading posts, especially in the Canadian Northwest.
Other repeat visitors
Experienced solvers soon recognise other regulars: ERA, ALOE, OREO, ETNA, AREA and ODE all appear often because their common letters make grids easier to fill. Learning them gives you footholds in difficult corners.
How to solve crossword clues
Solving always starts with the clue. Read it carefully, then think about which part is the definition: usually the first or last word, but sometimes a phrase or the whole clue. In cryptic puzzles, look out for indicator words that signal wordplay, such as anagrams or hidden words. They give you a second route to the answer. Stay alert, though: setters use them to lead you astray as well as to help. Our guide to cryptic crosswords for beginners explains more.
Finally, avoid distractions, use a pencil and do not be afraid to put the puzzle down and return with a fresh mind.
