Some pleasingly straightforward etymologies in our pick of the best of the broadsheets’ cryptic clues
In the sample clues below, the links take you to explainers from our beginners series.
11a Northern Ireland flipping certain to get guarantee (6)
[ wordplay: reversed (“flipping”) abbrev. for “Northern Ireland” + synonym for “certain” ]
[ reversed NI + SURE ]
[ definition: guarantee ]
17aBritain’s entanglement with EU law starts a tense situation (4-5)
[ wordplay: anagram of BRITAIN with first letters (“starts”) of EU LAW ]
[ anagram of BRITAINEL ]
[ definition: a tense situation ]
4d Supported leaving Europe, won unexpectedly – step away from the brink (4,4)
[ wordplay: synonym for “supported” without (“leaving”) abbrev. for “Europe” + anagram of (“unexpectedly”) WON ]
[ BACKED – E + OWN ]
[ definition: step away from the brink ]
13aFalls in Arsenal’s initial profit reversed by the Gunners (7)
[ wordplay: first letter of (“initial”) ARSENAL & synonym for “profit”, backwards (“reversed”) + military abbrev. for Regiment of Artillery (“Gunners”) ]
[ A & GAIN backwards + RA ]
[ definition: falls ]
It is believed that Niagara is a derivative of the Iroquoian word, “Onguiaahra”, which was anglicised by missionaries. The name appears on maps as early as 1641. The generally accepted meaning is “The Strait”. Some think it was derived from the narrow waterway that flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Early maps do not refer to the Niagara River but the Niagara Strait, which is more correct.
13a Sweets from New York City’s outskirts (5)
[ wordplay: first & last letters (“outskirts’) of CITY ]
[ C AND Y ]
[ definition: US English term (“from New York”) for “sweets” ]