Casaba, e.g. - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Casaba, e.g.," is a classic example of a "category" clue, a common and friendly entry point for many solvers. It relies on recognizing a specific item and then identifying the broader group it belongs to. Let's break down how to approach this type of clue with confidence.

Clue Analysis

The clue has two key parts:

1. "Casaba": This is the specific example. A solver needs to know what a casaba is.
2. "e.g.": This is a crucial abbreviation for the Latin phrase exempli gratia, which means "for example." In crossword puzzles, "e.g.", "for one", or "say" are strong signals that the answer is not the word itself, but the category it represents.

So, the clue is asking: "What category of thing is a casaba an example of?"

Thinking Approaches

When you encounter a clue like this, the thought process should be:

1. Identify the Example: First, what is a casaba? It's a type of fruit, specifically a large, sweet one with a thick rind.
2. Recognize the Signal: The "e.g." immediately tells you not to look for a synonym for "casaba," but for its classification.
3. Broaden the Category: What kind of fruit is it? It's in the same family as cantaloupes and honeydews.
4. Name the Category: The word that groups casabas, cantaloupes, and honeydews together is MELON.
5. Check the Crossings: As always, confirm your answer with the intersecting clues. If the letters fit, you've likely found the correct solution.

This pattern recognition is a fundamental skill in crossword solving. Spotting "e.g." saves you from going down the wrong path of trying to find a synonym or related specific item.

Background Context

The casaba is a type of winter melon, belonging to the muskmelon group (Cucumis melo var. inodorus). It's known for its distinctive ovoid shape, wrinkled yellow rind, and mild, sweet white flesh. The name comes from the town of Kasaba, Turkey, from which it was once imported to the United States.

While not as common in American supermarkets as cantaloupes or watermelons, the casaba is a perfect example for this type of clue because it's familiar enough to be recognized as a type of melon, making the category connection clear.

Conclusion

"Casaba, e.g." is a textbook example of how crossword constructors use specific examples to point to a general category. The key takeaway for solvers is to always pay close attention to abbreviations and short words like "e.g.", "say", or "perhaps", as they are often the most important part of the clue, guiding you from the specific to the general.

Hints

1. Hint 1: A type of fruit.
2. Hint 2: Often large and round or oval, with a thick rind.
3. Hint 3: Other examples include honeydew and cantaloupe.
4. Hint 4: This word is a general category for fruits like the one in the clue.