Poked with a knight’s weapon - NYT Mini-Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's NYT Mini-Crossword features a straightforward and satisfying clue: "Poked with a knight's weapon". This clue is a great example of how crossword constructors combine a common action with a specific object to create a single-word answer. Let's break down the path to the solution.

Clue Analysis

The clue can be deconstructed into two main parts:

1. "Poked": This is a past-tense verb, signaling that our answer will likely be in the same tense. It describes a piercing or jabbing action.
2. "with a knight's weapon": This is the definitional core of the clue. We need to identify a weapon strongly associated with a knight that can be used for "poking".

While a knight might use a sword, the quintessential "poking" weapon, especially from horseback, is the lance. The word "lance" is not just a noun; it's also a verb meaning "to pierce or cut with a lance (or a sharp instrument)". The clue's use of "Poked" points us to the past tense, making the answer LANCED.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might arrive at the answer through a few common strategies:

• Direct Association: The most immediate thought for "knight's weapon" used for poking is a lance. From there, it's a short leap to connect it to the verb "to lance" and its past tense form.
• Part-of-Speech Analysis: Recognizing that "Poked" is a past-tense verb is a crucial first step. This helps you look for an answer that ends in "-ED". If you were thinking of the noun "LANCE", this grammatical clue would steer you toward the correct verb form.
• Considering Alternatives: You might briefly think of "SPEARED" or "JABBED". However, "lance" is more specifically associated with knights than "spear" (which has a broader historical use). "JABBED" is a good synonym for "poked" but doesn't incorporate the "knight's weapon" part of the clue. "LANCED" elegantly combines both elements.

Background Context

The lance is a pole weapon designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier (lancer). Its primary use was in charges and jousting tournaments. The word's transition from a noun to a verb is common in English. Interestingly, the verb "to lance" has a prominent secondary meaning in medicine, referring to the act of cutting open a boil or abscess with a sharp instrument called a lancet to drain it. This dual meaning makes it a favorite for crossword constructors.

Conclusion

"LANCED" is a perfect answer for "Poked with a knight's weapon". It directly translates the clue's components: the action of poking, the specific tool of a knight, and the past tense. It's a clean, gettable clue that rewards common knowledge of medieval history.

Hints

1. Hint 1: Think about the long, pointed weapon a knight would use, especially while on horseback.
2. Hint 2: The action described is a form of piercing or cutting.
3. Hint 3: The name of the weapon is also a verb. The clue asks for the past tense of that verb.
4. Hint 4: This word is also used in a medical context for draining an abscess or boil.