The Week Crossword 1219

[SirFrancisDrake]

Hello everyone. I'm perplexed by 16D : Assistant and girl? There's one on each knee (6).
- A - I - A. The reason I'm confused is that with these letters and a six word answer you get PATINA (PA = assistant TINA = girl) but PATINA has nothing to do with knees. The usual answer to such a clue might be [two girls, one on each knee] PATELLA (PAT + ELLA) which is a kneecap. But that answer is seven letters, not six. So can anyone out there reconcile PATINA with the 'knee' definition part of the clue? I always thought that Patina had to do with the sheen on wood or metal caused by constant use. Many thanks in advance for any help.

[Mamyalynne]

Any special instructions to the puzzle?

[Neveracrossword]

I've checked my three big dictionaries and there's nothing to make 'patina' = one on each knee. It's either setter's error or there's something going on, maybe something thematic or special instructions as Mamya suggested.

[SirFrancisDrake]

Hello Mamyalynne, no I can't see any special instructions for the puzzle. I'm wondering whether Tim Moorey (the setter) simply had a blank moment and mistook PATINA for PATELLA.

[SirFrancisDrake]

Hello Neveracrossword - looks like we had the same thought at the same moment. (re setter's error)
:-)

[Neveracrossword]

THanks, SirFrancis, setter's error was my first thought - but it's a crossword I know nothing about, maybe it always has exemplary standards!

[SirFrancisDrake]

Thanks Neveracrossword. Tim Moorey is usually 'spot-on' but I guess anyone can make a mistake. Tim's been setting 'The Week' crossword for many years and I can only remember one previous glitch - and even that one wasn't his fault. Something to do with the typesetting as I recall.

[elliemay1]

//The word patella originated in the late 17th century from the diminutive form of Latin patina or patena or paten, meaning shallow dish//

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks again, SFD. It'll be a real pity if it is indeed just a rare slip.

[SirFrancisDrake]

Thank's everyone for your efforts. I think I'm convinced now that it is simply an error of definition - perhaps mixing two clues and two answers. I'll see if any clarification or correction appears in a later issue of The Week and let you know what transpires. Thanks again for your advice and time.

[SirFrancisDrake]

Ellie May you are a genius ! Many thanks for finding the link between Patella and Patina ! I'll mark your contribution as 'best answer'.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Elliemay, I saw something similar in my dictionary browsing - but it doesn't really resolve the definition part of the clue.

[Captain2]

Just come to this. A good find by Elliemay, but I agree with NaC's comment about the definition.
Also I know The Week can be a bit obscure, but having to rely on a definition from the 17thC is pushing it a bit.

[WGCman]

Agree with Captain2 and NaC. Good find, but a 500 year old diminution of an abbreviatiknnof a word from a dead language is pushing it too far

[dannyk13]

Looks very much like a setter's error.As patina parses I would go with it.

[dannyk13]

ignore my post.

[SarahBandB]

I was wondering exactly the same thing. Sadly The Week rarely publish error corrections on the crossword. A small 'glitch' maybe in an otherwise very enjoyable crossword.