Diversions & Puzzles

Puzzle No 1555 Clues across

7. The Oxford English Dictionary’s first citation of what word, meaning unpleasant, dirty, nasty, comes from the 1964 Beatles film A Hard Day’s Night? (6) 8. In 1904, which Helen became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree? (6) 10. What water connection in the street is used by firefighters? (7) 11. What breakfast dish of the southern US consists of coarsely ground maize kernels boiled with water or milk? (5) 12. What unit of land area equals 4840 square yards? (4) 13. What is the most commonly injured joint in basketball? (5) 17. What is the American word for a bowler hat? (5) 18/22. Which five-time Academy Award winner composed the scores for 11 James Bond films? (4,5) 23. What is the wire cage that fits over the cork of a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine? (7) 24. What is a course with abrupt alternate right and left turns? (6) 25. Who does Hugh Jackman play in the film The Greatest Showman? (6)

Clues down

1. What is a disparaging name for an intellectual? (7) 2. Which television series of 1975 and 2015 are based on novels by Winston Graham? (7) 3. In The Three Little Pigs, with what does the first little pig build his house? (5) 4. What framework on high posts in a garden is for climbing plants? (7) 5/6.Who is the only French driver to have won the F1 World Championship? (5,5) 9. River Phoenix’s first notable role was in which 1986 film? (5,2,2) 14. What does German “Neujahr” mean? (3,4) 15. The 1979 edition of which British dictionary was the first compiled using the full power of computer databases? (7) 16. Which branch of science is concerned with the bodily structure of humans and animals? (7) 19. What island became famous for clubs such as Amnesia, DC10 and Eden? (5) 20. The Greeks and Romans associated what animals with fertility, harmony and licentiousness? (5) 21. Who is Sesame Street’s grouchiest Muppet? (5)