A bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich is usually referred to as a BLT. Actually, it should be a TBLT because it also has two pieces of toast. Anyway, today's crossword by Garry Morse is titled "Hold the Tomato" and includes seven theme answers in which a T is replaced by a BL:
Feline snitch? BLABBYCAT
Junkyard guards? BLIGHTSECURITY
Forgetting how to stay up? FLOTATIONBLANK
Passionate maintenance of one's Cuisinart? BLENDERLOVINGCARE
Haul in à la the Big Bad Wolf, as a wrecked vehicle? BLOWBACKTOTHESHOP
Where a chant of 'Well done, blokes!' might start? ENGLISHBLEACHERS
Warning technologically unavailable in Titanic times? BLIPOFTHEICEBERG
That last answer, coincidentally, includes the name of a type of lettuce. Iceberg, also known as crisphead, is the most popular lettuce in the United States. It was developed for growth in the colder climate of the northern part of the country. Because of its high water content, iceberg has less flavor and less nutritional value than other types of lettuce.
"This, in Toledo" is ESTO, which is not used in English. "Warm Argentina month" is ENERO, which is not used in English. "En __: in the lead, in French" is TETE, which is not used in English. "Yokohama yes" is HAI, which is not used in English -- unless you count Hai Karate, a cheap brand of aftershave introduced in 1967. "Informal pricing words" is APOP, a term I have never seen or heard anywhere except in crossword puzzles. "Kitchen whistler" is TEAKETTLE -- but why is it called that? A tea kettle is "a metal container with a cover, handle and spout, used for boiling water." The word "kettle" dates from the 9th century and comes from the Middle English ketel, which came from the Old Norse ketill, a variant of the Latin catillus ("small pot"). We boil water in a tea kettle and use the hot water to make a cup of tea or a cup of coffee but the kettle itself contains only water. Shouldn't it be called a water kettle? Or, better yet, just a kettle?
Today's helpful hint: Keep a tea-stained tablecloth on hand in case any British friends come by for a visit. As we all know, the British always enjoy having a spot of tea.
(Yes, I know that was bad.)
