Giron

[Aperio]

Giron is the answer to this clue from todays Times :
"Banking system knight used for charge on shield (5)"

See discussions on Giron/Gyron:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puz zles/Question329638.html

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puz zles/Question330121.html

[JoolsTwo]

Gyron or (fr) Giron (heraldry) n a trianglular charge consisting of the lower half of a quarter of an escutcheon which has been divided diagonally from the corner to the fesse-point. [Fr giron, older geron; ]

Definition from Chambers - So as I read it Giron is the french spelling of Gyron. Which is comfirmed by my French/English dictionary.

[Aquagility]

Interesting, Aperio. But I don't think that this throws any new light on Saturday's dilemma.
On the wider question of whether the DT ever accepts alternative answers (as suggested by JimJools and other stalwarts) we shall have to wait for the published answers on Saturday. I think this is a vital issue for serious puzzlers, but don't hold your breath!

[Aperio]

The interesting thing here is that g*ron is not a common word yet it appears twice within a matter of days in different newspapers. Is this a coincidence? Perhaps, the Times crossword compiler does the dtgk and is making a point?

[Aquagility]

Can't think of another example offhand, but this seems to happen quite often.

By the way, have any of you noticed that you have(apparently) lost the invitation to report my answers. Have the powers-that-be decided that they are always a) proper and b) pertinent? Or maybe that they are unlikely ever to be worth reporting. Either way, I take it as a rare distinction. :-)

[JoolsTwo]

I think they are in cohorts and just trying to get us going or confuse us. :-)

[JoolsTwo]

I can report you Aquagility - Did you want me too? :-)

[JoolsTwo]

You can't report yourself. So it won't show on your screen.

[Aquagility]

Message received and understood, Jools. Thanks.

[Aperio]

Perhaps we should suggest a simple ambiguity check to MM e.g. Chambers?

http://www.chambersharrap.co.uk/chambers/wordg ames/word_wizards/wwizards.py/main

[prospector]

the invitation is still here ... to report your question and to report your 'quthor' answers .....

perhaps, this is the rare distinction!!

... now, what shall I do!