After Hours, Old Words
September 16, 2026 · 12×11 · Normal
Speck in the sea
Rises from a chimney
Dutch china town
Career inmates
School bag on a back
Dunked in a mug
By way of Rome
Fixed on someone
Thailand's currency
Stops a disaster
Stonecrop in gardens
Armed volunteers
A sudden big hit
Bat-making tree
Sign film stars
Racy club show
Wash away dirt
Twin-mast vessel
Give … a call
Left to mature
Fond old address
Feeling closer now?
A pigeon's perch
Tiny old hamlet
Global peace body
Fish and chips land
Carved rock slab
One's own folk
Old Egypt zone
Knuckles on wood
Sound of triumph
Sunbeam or fish
Museum's main draw
Mocking short laugh
Bud on a potato
Smooths a shirt
Rocket in sci-fi
Slice of bacon
Vote of approval
Buzz or big talk
Artist of odd stairs
After Hours, Old Words — Solution
September 16, 2026 · 12×11 · Normal
Speck in the sea
Rises from a chimney
Dutch china town
Career inmates
D
School bag on a back
S
Dunked in a mug
By way of Rome
T
Fixed on someone
S
Thailand's currency
B
I
S
L
E
Stops a disaster
A
V
E
R
T
Stonecrop in gardens
A
Armed volunteers
A sudden big hit
M
I
L
I
T
I
A
Bat-making tree
Sign film stars
A
S
H
B
O
F
F
Racy club show
Wash away dirt
C
A
B
A
R
E
T
Twin-mast vessel
Give … a call
K
E
T
C
H
Left to mature
Fond old address
A
G
E
D
Feeling closer now?
H
E
R
A pigeon's perch
Tiny old hamlet
L
E
D
G
E
Global peace body
U
N
Fish and chips land
Carved rock slab
One's own folk
S
T
E
L
E
Old Egypt zone
Knuckles on wood
N
O
M
E
U
K
Sound of triumph
Sunbeam or fish
H
A
Museum's main draw
A
R
T
Mocking short laugh
Bud on a potato
A
Smooths a shirt
Rocket in sci-fi
I
R
O
N
Slice of bacon
R
A
S
H
E
R
S
T
A
R
S
H
I
P
Vote of approval
A
Y
E
Buzz or big talk
H
Y
P
E
Artist of odd stairs
E
S
C
H
E
R
After Hours, Old Words — The notes
September 16, 2026 · 12×11 · Normal
- ISLESpeck in the seaA poetic word for island, same root as 'island', borrowed via French, and the S is silent.
- SMOKERises from a chimneyVisible fumes from fire, but also slang for vaping or for 'smoke and mirrors' deception.
- DELFTDutch china townThe Dutch city famous for blue-and-white pottery since the 1600s.
- LIFERSCareer inmatesPeople serving life sentences, or informally, people who never leave one job or place.
- SATCHELSchool bag on a backA bag worn over the shoulder, classic for schoolkids and, historically, postmen.
- TEABAGDunked in a mugA small porous pouch holding loose tea, invented commercially in the early 1900s.
- VIABy way of RomeLatin for 'by way of', used for routes, transfers, or crediting a source.
- STAREFixed on someoneA long, fixed look, often considered rude if held too long.
- BAHTThailand's currencyThailand's currency, named after an old unit of weight.
- AVERTStops a disasterTo turn away or prevent, you avert your eyes, or avert a crisis.
- SEDUMStonecrop in gardensA hardy succulent genus, popular in rock gardens and green roofs.
- MILITIAArmed volunteersA body of citizens trained to fight, as opposed to a professional standing army.
- BOFFA sudden big hitShow-business slang for a surprise hit or a big laugh, from Variety magazine jargon.
- ASHBat-making treeGrey powder left after burning, but also a tough hardwood, traditionally used for bats.
- AGENTSSign film starsPeople who act on behalf of others, could be spies, or just talent and travel agents.
- CABARETRacy club showA form of after-dark entertainment with music, song and dance.
- CLEANSEWash away dirtTo make thoroughly clean, or a skincare/diet routine that claims to purge toxins.
- KETCHTwin-mast vesselA two-masted sailing boat, smaller than a schooner.
- HERGive … a callThe object form of 'she'.
- AGEDLeft to matureMade older, or matured, like a fine wine or cheese left to develop flavor.
- DEARIEFond old addressAn old-fashioned, affectionate way to address someone, often used by an elder.
- NEARERFeeling closer now?Closer in distance or time, comparative of 'near'.
- LEDGEA pigeon's perchA narrow horizontal shelf, on a wall, cliff or windowsill.
- THORPTiny old hamletAn old English word for a small village, rarely used today outside dialect.
- UNGlobal peace bodyThe United Nations, founded in 1945, headquartered in New York City.
- UKFish and chips landThe United Kingdom, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- STELECarved rock slabAn upright stone slab, usually carved with inscriptions or images, from antiquity.
- KITHOne's own folkOne's friends and acquaintances, as in the phrase 'kith and kin'.
- NOMEOld Egypt zoneAn administrative district in ancient Egypt; the word is also used for regions in modern Greece.
- RAPSKnuckles on woodSharp knocks, like on a door, or rhythmic spoken lyrics over a beat.
- HASound of triumphAn interjection of triumph or surprise, not to be confused with the hectare symbol.
- RAYSunbeam or fishA beam of light, or a flat cartilaginous fish related to sharks.
- ARTMuseum's main drawCreative works like painting and sculpture, the reason people visit museums.
- HAHMocking short laughA skeptical or mocking variant of 'ha', often used to signal disbelief.
- EYEBud on a potatoThe organ of sight, but also the small bud on a potato that sprouts into a new plant.
- IRONSmooths a shirtThe appliance that presses wrinkles from clothes using heat, also a metal and a golf club.
- STARSHIPRocket in sci-fiA large fictional spacecraft, a staple of science fiction.
- RASHERSlice of baconA thin slice of bacon, a term more common in British English than American.
- AYEVote of approvalYes, used by sailors, in old English, and as a parliamentary vote in favor.
- HYPEBuzz or big talkExaggerated excitement or promotion, often inflated beyond what something deserves.
- ESCHERArtist of odd stairsM.C. Escher (1898-1972), the Dutch graphic artist famous for impossible staircases and tessellations.