CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

▶ Across

1. Primitive canoe that has been mined, would you say? (6)

4. US Uncle about to give credit to the East: what a laugh! (6)

9. A number of such nights as were entertaining (7)

10. Those who wield axes lose head, but they may hold water (5)

11. Making a lot of noise it is glaringly colourful (4)

12. To clamp the teeth together may take courage (4)

13. Last of entanglement: that is something that gets knotted (3)

15. Go and seek an appearance (4)

16. Bar that will grow smaller the more it's used (4)

19. Samovar makes its appearance in tea parlour, naturally (3)

21. Where construction is concerned, she loses her heart to it (4)

22. Grown right out of garment (4) 24. Household officer will begin to gesticulate, given space (5)

25. French castle offers appropriate water to native cat (7)

26. Says what one says is true, there being fashion in craft (6)

27. Sets forth the conditions (6)

▶ Down

1. Voices from the past? (4,9) 2. Crumpled rag with double capacity – but not all at once (7)

3. For one thing, it is necessary to get in usurper's overthrow (4)

5. A particularly striking garment for the universe as a whole (8)

6. Chosen for office, but not yet there to pick the top off (5)

7. Some rude man is upset by such examples of bad conduct (13)

8. String stretched across drum may be an allurement (5)

14. Some rags torn from very thin material (8)

17. Shield nothing, having awkwardly crept around half of it (7)

18. On which printer may compose the criticism one comes in for (5)

20. If there's a ring in what one's led by, it may hang one (5)

23. A role that won't stick together (4)