FOR GEARHEADS ONLY
by Mike Selinker
Solution: CERECLOTH
In each set of gears, one gear is replaced with a five- or seven-letter palindromic sequence to make a new word or phrase.
| COONS | CITATIONS |
| OVATION | RESERVATION |
| PEACH | PEACE PIPE |
| CAWED | CORNROWED |
| TEXTS | TENEMENTS |
| OREAD | BANANA BREAD |
| LEVERED | LILY-LIVERED |
| STOOGE | STONEHENGE |
| STROM | STOREROOM |
| REMORAS | REMORSELESS |
| STORIES | REPERTORIES |
| INFER | INTERPRETER |
| EMBROIL | EMBROIDERED |
| SIMOUS | SYNONYMOUS |
| POSSES | POSITIVITIES |
| MALIK | MALIGNING |
| SUPERB | SUPERSEDES |
| PARADED | PARALLELLED |
| MICROBUS | MICROBREWERS |
| BREAKING | BREATHTAKING |
| AKINS | ASSASSINS |
| BILLING | BEST-SELLING |
| OKIES | OKINAWANS |
| BUSTER | BETA-TESTER |
| CROSSING | CROSS-INDEXED |
| PRONG | PLAY ALONG |
| PARED | PREFERRED |
| FEELER | POTATO PEELER |
| CORDATE | CORROBORATE |
| ELEGIA | PARAPLEGIA |
| MAGNUS | MAGNETITES |
| RUSHY | RUSTICITY |
The middle letters of each palindromic sequence spell:
A SIN MAY HELP PROVIDE WHAT WAXY FABRIC?
The sin is SLOTH, and exchanging the S for a palindromic sequence makes CERECLOTH.