Watermelon detritus - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Watermelon detritus," is a great example of how a simple concept can be elevated by a single, slightly more formal word. Once you unpack the vocabulary, the answer becomes quite clear. It's a test of both your knowledge of fruit and your lexicon.

Clue Analysis

The clue has two parts: "Watermelon" and "detritus."

• Watermelon: This is our subject. We're looking for something associated with this large, popular fruit.
• Detritus: This is the key word. It means waste, debris, or leftover fragments. In a biological context, it often refers to dead organic material.

Putting them together, the clue is asking for the waste or leftover parts of a watermelon. After you've eaten the sweet, red flesh, what remains? The tough outer skin.

Thinking Approaches

1. Vocabulary Substitution: The most direct path is to understand "detritus." If you know it means "waste" or "leftovers," you can rephrase the clue in your head as "Watermelon leftovers." This immediately brings the answer to mind.

2. Visualization: Picture the act of eating watermelon. You eat the juicy pink part and stop when you get to the hard, less flavorful part. What do you call that leftover piece you set aside? This mental image can help you bypass the fancy vocabulary and get straight to the answer.

3. Consider the Plural: The word "detritus" is a mass noun, implying a collection of waste. This suggests the answer is likely to be a plural noun, which can be a helpful hint when considering the word's structure or looking at crossing letters. An 'S' at the end would be a strong confirmation.

4. Cross-Referencing: Think of other fruits. What do you call the leftover part of an orange? A peel or a rind. A banana? A peel. A lemon? A peel or a rind. This helps you brainstorm related words, and one of them will fit the context of a watermelon perfectly.

Background Context

While we typically discard watermelon rinds, they are actually edible and used in various cuisines. Most famously, they can be pickled, creating a sweet and tangy condiment popular in the Southern United States. They can also be stir-fried, candied, or used in chutneys. The word "rind" itself is used for the tough outer layer of various fruits (especially melons and citrus) and even some cheeses, like Parmesan.

Conclusion

This clue is a classic example of a definition clue dressed up in slightly more sophisticated language. The challenge isn't in the concept, but in knowing the word "detritus." By substituting it with a simpler synonym or using visualization, solvers can quickly cut through the vocabulary to find the common, everyday answer.

Hints

1. Hint 1: Think about what's left over after you eat a piece of fruit.
2. Hint 2: This refers to the outer layer of certain fruits or vegetables.
3. Hint 3: It's the part of the watermelon you typically don't eat.
4. Hint 4: Other fruits with this part include lemons, oranges, and grapefruits.

The answer to the clue "Watermelon detritus" is RINDS.