Author: Jason Juang
The grid represents a croquet field. The title is an allusion to the equipment used by the Queen of Hearts in her croquet game, as well as (sort of) a reference to Mike Selinker's "Hedgehogs and Worms" puzzles.
A ball may score up to 13 points in croquet by passing through the hoops in the correct order (and direction) and then striking the center peg, as illustrated in the diagram. Each hoop is marked by a square that is split diagonally into two halves. Words are clued in order, and must be entered in the grid following the path that a ball would take around the field. Each hoop square holds two letters; a different letter is used each time the ball passes through the hoop.
Reading the 13 "scoring" letters—the 12 hoop letters in the order they are used, plus the center peg—spells CHRYSANTHEMUM, which is the answer.
Answer | Clue |
---|---|
MEMCPY | Function that reproduces a range of bytes |
GENITAL | One of Freud's five stages |
NO HELP | Useless |
PABLO | Name for a Giant Panda? |
KERRY | Clinton follower |
URGED | Exhorted |
ARTERY | 93 in Boston, or 101 in Silicon Valley |
CUE BALL | It's white and can jump |
PESETA | Euro predecessor |
MANIA | Obsession |
CRABAPPLE | Fruit for crustaceans? |
NON-LATIN | Like Greek or Arabic scripts |
EGYPT | Its government fell in 2011 |
MEDIA LAB | It's near East Campus |
EUCHRE | 24 card game that Jack Bauer might like |
TRADE | Wheat for sheep, say |
GRUYÈRE | Swiss cheese |
KOLB | BQBL favorite Kevin |
ARCMIN | Part of a deg. |
AMATEUR | Not professional |
BLOSSOM | Mayim role |