Diversions & Puzzles

Puzzle No 1612

Clues across

1. What is theatrical slang for laughing involuntarily while on stage? (8)

7. What is the capital of Nigeria? (5)

8. What is the Maryland country retreat for the president of the United States? (4,5)

9. Which colour pigment was obtained from cinnabar, a toxic ore of mercury? (3)

10. What is a shaft on which a wheel rotates? (4)

11. Solidified carbon dioxide is known as what? (3,3)

13. The tree Ficus macrophylla, recognised by its imposing buttress roots, is better known as what? (7,3,3)

15. What is to abruptly stop talking about something? (4,2)

16. What short straight whip is carried by a horse rider? (4)

18. What is the name of the computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey, coincidentally a one letter shift from IBM? (3)

20. What is food served with the main course at a restaurant but on a separate plate? (4,5)

21. Walt Disney was christened with what middle name? (5)

22. What are words having exactly or nearly the same meaning as another word? (8)

Clues down

1. What hot drink was an essential part of Aztec culture? (5)

2. Nash wanted to name its new compact 1950 car Diplomat but found that Dodge had reserved that name, so used what name instead? (7)

3. Which singer had 1984 hits with Your Love Is King and Smooth Operator? (4)

4. Which song won the 1960 Academy Award for Best Original Song, a first for a foreign language film? (5,2,6)

5. What paper quantity is onetwentieth of a ream? (5)

6. Which US president had the largest shoe size? (7)

7. Who is the supreme commander of a fleet? (7)

12. Which father and son do you associate with waltzes? (7) 13/14. Which English scientist discovered benzene and popularised the terms anode, cathode, electrode and ion? (7,7)

15. Who is Cliff Huxtable’s wife in The Cosby Show? (5)

17. The first person to appear in a photograph was standing on a street in which city? (5)

19. Carnaby Street is in which area of London? (4)