Material with a coarse weave - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Material with a coarse weave," is a classic example of a straightforward definition clue. It calls upon your general knowledge of textiles and materials. This is a common word in both everyday language and crossword puzzles, making it a great entry point for solvers of all levels.

Clue Analysis

The clue can be broken down into two parts: "Material" and "with a coarse weave."

• Material: This tells us we are looking for a noun that describes a substance, most likely a type of fabric or cloth.
• Coarse weave: This is the key descriptor. A "coarse" weave means the threads are thick and the texture is rough and open, not smooth and fine like silk or satin. Think sturdy, durable, and textured.

The puzzle is asking for the specific name of a fabric that fits this description.

Thinking Approaches

For a definitional clue like this, there are a few ways to arrive at the answer:

1. Direct Knowledge: The most efficient method is to simply know your fabrics. Brainstorm a list of materials: cotton, wool, silk, linen, denim, etc. Then, filter that list by the descriptor "coarse weave." Burlap might come to mind, but it's often too rough. The answer is a very common material for jackets and suits.

2. Word Association: What kind of clothing or items are made from a coarse, woven material? You might think of a professor's jacket, a detective's overcoat in an old movie, or traditional British country wear. These associations strongly point toward the correct fabric.

3. Leveraging Crossings: If you're not sure, don't hesitate to solve the clues that cross this one. For a five-letter word, getting even one or two letters can be a game-changer. For instance, if you had T _ _ _ D, the answer would likely jump out at you.

Background Context

The answer, TWEED, is a woolen fabric with a flexible, open texture, fitting the "coarse weave" description perfectly. It originated in Scotland and Ireland and is traditionally associated with outdoor and country clothing due to its durability and moisture-resistance.

Its name is famously linked to the River Tweed, which flows along the border between England and Scotland. One story suggests the name came about by accident when a London merchant misread a letter referring to "tweel" (the Scots word for twill, a type of weave) as "tweed." The name stuck, and the fabric became forever associated with the region.

Today, Tweed is used for a variety of items, from jackets and suits to hats and bags, and it carries an air of classic, academic, or heritage style.

Conclusion

This clue is a solid, vocabulary-based entry that rewards general knowledge. It serves as a good reminder that building a mental database of common categories like fabrics, animals, and geographical locations is a fundamental skill for becoming a proficient crossword solver. When you see a descriptive clue, start by brainstorming and then narrow down the options based on the specific details provided.

Hints

1. Hint 1: Think about types of fabric or cloth.
2. Hint 2: This fabric is often associated with British country clothing or academic settings.
3. Hint 3: It's famously produced in Scotland, with Harris being a well-known type.
4. Hint 4: The name of this fabric is also the name of a river on the England-Scotland border.

The answer is: TWEED