Bones, Beats and Banter
September 24, 2026 · 12×11 · Hard
Drum call at dusk
Handy to have
Getaway, briefly
Pushes a button
Behind the nose
Hobbies and passions
Thin lower leg bone
Dry as old straw
80s soul singer
Rose oil perfume
Static in the data
Sea god's weapon
Steps in a hedge
Pub or courtroom
Male cat or drum
Chopin study piece
Unlocks the door
Party, UK slang
Character played
Home of Mickey
Owl-like and clever
Sound from a hen
Tissue swelling
Dicey, not safe
Wounds the heart
Still good to use
A tipping point
Loose robes worn
What did you say?
First text word
Isle monks' lake
Social post type
Cheer someone on
Tech data path
Box in the mail
Catch in a trap
Tiny picnic invaders
Where rockets soar
Flips on the beam
Bones, Beats and Banter — Solution
September 24, 2026 · 12×11 · Hard
Drum call at dusk
T
Handy to have
Getaway, briefly
U
Pushes a button
Behind the nose
P
Hobbies and passions
I
Thin lower leg bone
F
Dry as old straw
80s soul singer
S
Rose oil perfume
A
T
T
A
R
Static in the data
N
O
I
S
E
Sea god's weapon
Steps in a hedge
T
R
I
D
E
N
T
Pub or courtroom
Male cat or drum
B
A
R
S
T
I
L
E
S
Chopin study piece
E
T
U
D
E
Unlocks the door
Party, UK slang
O
P
E
N
S
Character played
Home of Mickey
R
O
L
E
Owl-like and clever
D
O
Sound from a hen
Tissue swelling
Dicey, not safe
O
E
D
E
M
A
Wounds the heart
W
Still good to use
A tipping point
Loose robes worn
C
R
I
S
I
S
What did you say?
First text word
Isle monks' lake
H
I
V
A
L
I
D
Social post type
Cheer someone on
S
T
A
T
U
S
Tech data path
Box in the mail
B
U
S
Catch in a trap
E
N
S
N
A
R
E
P
A
C
K
A
G
E
Tiny picnic invaders
A
N
T
S
Where rockets soar
S
K
Y
Flips on the beam
G
Y
M
N
A
S
T
Bones, Beats and Banter — The notes
September 24, 2026 · 12×11 · Hard
- TATTOODrum call at duskA tattoo is also a military drumbeat signaling soldiers back to camp, not just skin ink.
- UTILEHandy to haveUtile means useful or serviceable, a slightly formal word for handy.
- TRIPGetaway, brieflyA trip is a journey, outing, or stumble, context decides which.
- PRESSESPushes a buttonPresses is the verb "press" in third person: pushes down, or runs a printing press.
- ADENOIDBehind the noseThe adenoid is lymphatic tissue behind the nose that can swell and block breathing, especially in children.
- INTERESTSHobbies and passionsInterests are things you enjoy or care about, or shares one holds in a business.
- FIBULAThin lower leg boneThe fibula is the thin bone running alongside the shin, from the knee to the ankle.
- SEREDry as old strawSere is a literary word for dry, withered, or parched, often used of autumn leaves.
- SADE80s soul singerSade is the British singer known for the 1984 hit "Smooth Operator."
- ATTARRose oil perfumeAttar is a fragrant essential oil, classically distilled from rose petals.
- NOISEStatic in the dataNoise is unwanted sound, but also irrelevant data that obscures a real signal.
- TRIDENTSea god's weaponA trident is a three-pronged spear, famously wielded by the sea god Poseidon or Neptune.
- STILESSteps in a hedgeStiles are steps or a narrow gap built into a fence or wall so walkers can cross without a gate.
- BARPub or courtroomA bar can be a pub, a rod of metal, a unit of pressure, or "the bar", the legal profession.
- TOMMale cat or drumA tom is a male cat, but also a tom-tom drum used in a drum kit.
- ETUDEChopin study pieceAn étude is a short musical piece composed to build a specific playing skill, like Chopin's.
- OPENSUnlocks the doorOpens is the verb "open" in third person: unlocks, starts, or begins something.
- DOParty, UK slangIn British slang, a "do" is an informal party or celebration, as in "a birthday do."
- ROLECharacter playedA role is the part someone plays, whether on stage, on screen, or at work.
- DISNEYHome of MickeyDisney is the entertainment company founded by Walt Disney, home to Mickey Mouse.
- WISESTOwl-like and cleverWisest is the superlative of wise: showing the most sound judgment and experience.
- CLUCKSound from a henCluck is the sound a hen makes, often repeated in short bursts.
- OEDEMATissue swellingOedema (British spelling of edema) is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in body tissue.
- RISKYDicey, not safeRisky describes something dangerous or uncertain, with a real chance of loss.
- HURTSWounds the heartHurts is the verb "hurt" in third person: causes pain, physical or emotional.
- VALIDStill good to useValid means legally or logically acceptable, still usable, like an unexpired ticket.
- CRISISA tipping pointA crisis is a decisive turning point, originally a medical term for the critical moment in an illness.
- ABASLoose robes wornAbas are the plural of aba, a loose sleeveless outer robe traditionally worn in the Middle East.
- ANANWhat did you say?"Anan?" is an archaic English interjection meaning "what did you say?" or "pardon?", found in Shakespeare.
- HIFirst text word"Hi" is a casual greeting, often the very first word typed in a text message.
- TANAIsle monks' lakeLake Tana in Ethiopia is the source of the Blue Nile, and its islands hold ancient monasteries.
- STATUSSocial post typeStatus can mean social standing, or the short update people post on social media.
- EGGCheer someone onTo "egg someone on" is to encourage or provoke them into doing something risky.
- BUSTech data pathIn electronics, a bus is a pathway that carries data between components in a computer.
- PACKAGEBox in the mailA package is a wrapped parcel, typically sent by mail or delivery service.
- ENSNARECatch in a trapTo ensnare is to trap or catch someone, literally in a snare or figuratively in a scheme.
- ANTSTiny picnic invadersAnts are small social insects famous for showing up uninvited at picnics.
- SKYWhere rockets soarThe sky is the expanse above the earth, the open route rockets take to leave it.
- GYMNASTFlips on the beamA gymnast is an athlete who performs flips, balances, and routines, often on apparatus like the beam.