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Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
1. Like much Oscar-night attire CHIC
“Chic” is a French word meaning “stylish”.

5. Under-the-sink installation P-TRAP
Most sinks in a home have a P-trap in the outlet pipe that empties into the sewer line. This P-trap has at its heart a U-bend that retains a small amount of water after the sink is emptied. This plug of water serves as a seal to prevent sewer gases entering into the home. By virtue of its design, the U-bend can also capture any heavy objects (like an item of jewelry) that might fall through the plughole. But the “trapping” of fallen objects is secondary to the P-traps main function of trapping of sewer gases.

14. Jazz singer Horne LENA
Lena Horne was an American jazz singer, actress, dancer and civil rights activist. Horne started out her career as a nightclub singer and then began to get some meaty acting roles in Hollywood. However, she ended up on the blacklist during the McCarthy Era for expressing left wing political views. One of Horne’s starring roles was in the 1943 movie “Stormy Weather” for which she also performed the title song.

15. Island near Curaçao ARUBA
Aruba is one of the so-called ABC Islands. The ABC Islands is the nickname given to the three westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean. The nickname comes from the first letters of the island names: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. All three of the ABC Islands are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

16. 1930s migrant to California OKIE
“Okies” was a derogatory term used during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s for farming families who migrated from Oklahoma (hence the name), Arkansas, Kansas and Texas in search of agricultural jobs in California. The road used by many of these migrant families was Route 66, which is also called “Mother Road”.

17. Far __ EAST
In geographical terms there are three “easts”. The Near East and Middle East are terms that are often considered synonymous, although “Near East” tends to be used when discussing ancient history and “Middle East” when referring to the present day. The Near/Middle East encompasses most of Western Asia and Egypt. The term “Far East” describes East Asia (including the Russian Far East), Southeast Asia and South Asia.

18. River where Romulus and Remus were abandoned TIBER
The Tiber is the principal river in Italy in that it runs through the capital of Rome. It is also the third longest river in the country.

According to tradition, Rome was founded by the twin brothers Romulus and Remus. The pair had a heated argument about who should be allowed to name the city and Romulus hit Remus with a shovel, killing him. And so, “Rome” was born!

23. Oklahoma tribe OTOE
The Native American people known as the Otoe were the first tribe encountered by the Lewis and clark Expedition. The meeting took place at a point on the Missouri River that is now known as Council Bluff.

28. Crazed Muppet drummer ANIMAL
The Muppet character called Animal is the wild drummer in “The Muppet Show” band, which is actually called Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.

31. Bright light NEON
The basic design of neon lighting was first demonstrated at the Paris Motor Show in 1910. Such lighting is made up of glass tubes containing a vacuum into which has been introduced a small amount of neon gas. When a voltage is applied between two electrodes inside the tube, the neon gas “glows” and gives off the familiar light.

33. Bamboozled HAD
It’s thought that the lovely word “bamboozle” came into English from the Scottish “bombaze” meaning “perplex”. We’ve been using “bamboozle” since the very early 1700s.

36. Where Andy Capp ‘angs ‘is ‘at ‘OME
“Andy Capp” is a comic strip from Britain that is syndicated internationally. The strip was created by Reg Smythe in 1957 and is still going strong, despite the fact that Smythe passed away in 1998. Andy Capp and his wife Florrie (also “Flo”) are working class characters who live in the northeast of England. Andy is unemployed and Flo works as a charwoman. “Andy Capp” was my favorite comic strip growing up …

37. Noggin BEAN
A slang term for a “head” might be “bean” or “noggin”.

38. Go in haste HIE
“To hie” is to move quickly, to bolt.

40. Med. lab letters LDL
LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is one of the compounds responsible for transporting fats around the body. When LDL is combined with cholesterol it can be referred to as “bad cholesterol”. This is because LDL actually transport cholesterol into the inner walls of blood vessels leading to atherosclerosis.

41. *Feature of some kilts KNIFE PLEATS
The lovely Scottish garment called a kilt is pleated, but only at the rear.

45. Actor Wallach ELI
Eli Wallach has been appearing consistently and making great performances on the big and small screens since the 1950s. Wallach’s most famous role was probably as “the Ugly” in “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”. More recently he gave a very strong performance in 2006’s “The Holiday”.

50. Three French horns, in a Prokofiev classic WOLF
As is the case for many I am sure, Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” was my introduction to the world of classical music, as it was played for us at school many, many moons ago. Prokofiev wrote the piece as a commissioned work for the Central Children’s Theater in Moscow, in 1936. He loved the idea of the project, and wrote the story and music in just four days!

The brass instrument known as a horn is sometimes informally called a “French horn”. But, the French horn isn’t French at all, and originated in Germany. Very confusing …

51. Electrician’s covers, and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues SWITCH PLATES
Not only did I have to learn new spellings of words when I moved here from Ireland (here I go, whining again!) but I had to learn that down is the “off” position for a switch most times, and up is the “on” position. It’s exactly the opposite on the other side of the pond. Have I ever told you about the steering wheel position in the car? Aaargh!

60. Small porch STOOP
A stoop is a raised platform at the door of a house. “Stoop” came into American and Canadian English in the mid-1700s from the Dutch “stoep” meaning “flight of steps”.

61. Sitarist Shankar RAVI
Ravi Shankar was perhaps the most famous virtuoso (to us Westerners) from the world of Indian classical music, and was noted for his sitar playing. Also, Shankar was the father of the beautiful pop singer Norah Jones.

63. Mel-Tones frontman TORME
Crooner Mel Tormé fronted a vocal quintet in the 1940s called Mel Tormé and His Mel-Tones. Tormé set up the group as Frank Sinatra had been having success singing with the Hoboken Four as well as with the Pied Pipers.

Mel Tormé was a jazz singer, with a quality of voice that earned him the nickname “The Velvet Fog”. Tormé also wrote a few books, and did a lot of acting. He was the co-author of the Christmas classic known as “The Christmas Song”, which starts out with the line “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire …”

64. Place for the first 42-Down? EDEN
(42D. Colony residents NUDISTS)
According to the Bible, Adam and Eve became conscious of their nakedness after they ate from the Tree of Knowledge. As a result, they covered themselves with fig leaves and hid from the sight of God.

Down
1. Pitch indicator CLEF
“Clef” is the French word for “key”. In music, a clef is used to indicate the pitch of the notes written on the stave/staff.

4. Supervillain with a whip CATWOMAN
Catwoman is a supervillain who is usually depicted as an adversary of Batman in comics. In the sixties television show “Batman”, Catwoman was first portrayed by actress Julie Newmar, but then the more memorable Eartha Kitt took over, with the marvelously “feline voice”.

6. Sheer nonsense TRIPE
Tripe and hogwash are both words used informally meaning rubbish, of little value. Tripe is actually the rubbery lining of say a cow, that’s traditionally eaten with onions in the UK. Hogwash was originally the name of the swill fed to pigs.

7. Hick RUBE
A “rube” is person lacking sophistication, often described as “a country bumpkin”. The term derives from the masculine name “Reuben”, which was considered back in the early 1800s to be a typical name used in rural areas.

8. Disable the security system for, say ABET
The word “abet” comes into English from the Old French “abeter” meaning “to bait” or “to harass with dogs” (it literally means “to make bite”). This sense of encouraging something bad to happen morphed into our modern usage of “abet” meaning to aid or encourage someone in a crime.

11. Maui strings UKE
Ukulele (uke)

Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian islands. Maui is sometimes called the “Valley Isle” as it is composed of two volcanoes to the northwest and southeast of the island, each with numerous beautiful valleys carved into them.

13. Tina of “Date Night” FEY
Comic actress Tina Fey has a scar on her face a few inches long on her left cheek, which I was shocked to learn was caused by a childhood “slashing” incident. When she was just five years old and playing in the front yard of her house, someone just came up to her and slashed her with a knife. How despicable!

“Date Night” is a fairly entertaining action comedy movie starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell, released in 2010. It’s all about a married couple who decide to try a little harder on their routine weekly “date night” and end up in all sorts of adventures. As I said, it’s quite entertaining but I suppose I was expecting complete hilarity with such a great pairing of lead actors.

26. Jet legend NAMATH
The legendary quarterback Joe Namath played most of his professional football games with the New York Jets. Namath had played college football with the University of Alabama but left school without finishing his degree, to play professionally. Many years later he enrolled in Alabama’s External Degree program, and graduated with a BA in December 2007, at 64 years of age. Well done, Joe!

27. Danish seaport ODENSE
Odense is a city in Denmark, named after the Norse god Odin. One of the most famous sons of Odense was Hans Christian Anderson, the author of children’s stories.

30. Venezia’s land ITALIA
In Italian, the city of Venice (Venezia) is in Italy (Italia).

31. Innocents NAIFS
A naïf is someone who is naive, as “naïf” is the French word for “naive”.

32. Foil kin EPEE
The sword known as an épée has a three-sided blade. The épée is similar to a foil and sabre, both of which are also thrusting weapons. However, the foil and saber have rectangular cross-sections.

35. Deli slicing request THIN
The word “delicatessen” (or “deli” for short) came into English from the German “Delikatessen”. The Germans borrowed the word from French, in which language “délicatesse” means “delicious things (to eat)”. The term’s ultimate root is “delicatus”, the Latin for “giving pleasure, delightful”.

44. Hang out in the hammock LOLL
Our word “hammock” comes via Spanish from Haiti, evolving from a word used there to describe a fishing net.

49. USAF E-6’s TSGTS
Technical Sergeant (TSgt)

52. ‘Vette roof option T-TOP
A T-top is a car roof that has removable panels on either side of a rigid bar that runs down the center of the vehicle above the driver.

The Chevrolet Corvette was introduced to the world in 1953, and was named after the small maneuverable warship called a corvette. The Corvette has legs. It is the only American sports car that has been around for over 50 years.

58. Skater Midori ITO
Midori Ito is a Japanese figure skater. Ito was the first woman to land a triple/triple jump and a triple axel in competition. In fact she landed her first triple jump in training, when she was only 8 years old …

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For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Like much Oscar-night attire CHIC
5. Under-the-sink installation P-TRAP
10. Take a shine to? BUFF
14. Jazz singer Horne LENA
15. Island near Curaçao ARUBA
16. 1930s migrant to California OKIE
17. Far __ EAST
18. River where Romulus and Remus were abandoned TIBER
19. Hot SEXY
20. *Garden display FLOWER PETALS
23. Oklahoma tribe OTOE
24. Sends regrets SAYS NO
28. Crazed Muppet drummer ANIMAL
31. Bright light NEON
33. Bamboozled HAD
34. *Paper fastener METAL STAPLE
36. Where Andy Capp ‘angs ‘is ‘at ‘OME
37. Noggin BEAN
38. Go in haste HIE
39. Stretch SPAN
40. Med. lab letters LDL
41. *Feature of some kilts KNIFE PLEATS
45. Actor Wallach ELI
46. Creatures of habit? NUNS
47. Unfancy to the max? LOATHE
48. Ready to be served SEATED
50. Three French horns, in a Prokofiev classic WOLF
51. Electrician’s covers, and a hint to the ends of the answers to starred clues SWITCH PLATES
57. Take a verbal shot at ZING
60. Small porch STOOP
61. Sitarist Shankar RAVI
62. Busy AT IT
63. Mel-Tones frontman TORME
64. Place for the first 42-Down? EDEN
65. Opens, as a car trunk POPS
66. Sprinter’s asset SPEED
67. Stinky RANK

Down
1. Pitch indicator CLEF
2. Get back on one’s feet HEAL
3. “You are __ much trouble!” IN SO
4. Supervillain with a whip CATWOMAN
5. Pounds a beat PATROLS
6. Sheer nonsense TRIPE
7. Hick RUBE
8. Disable the security system for, say ABET
9. Lightweight umbrella PARASOL
10. Domineering BOSSY
11. Maui strings UKE
12. Tough spot FIX
13. Tina of “Date Night” FEY
21. Abbr. for the nameless? ET AL
22. Shipping route LANE
25. Patronize SHOP AT
26. Jet legend NAMATH
27. Danish seaport ODENSE
28. Moseys AMBLES
29. Compass point? NEEDLE
30. Venezia’s land ITALIA
31. Innocents NAIFS
32. Foil kin EPEE
35. Deli slicing request THIN
39. Old salt SEAFARER
41. More than suspected KNEW
42. Colony residents NUDISTS
43. Sat (down) ungracefully PLOPPED
44. Hang out in the hammock LOLL
49. USAF E-6’s TSGTS
50. Question before “Yeah, you!” WHO ME?
52. ‘Vette roof option T-TOP
53. Pear remnant CORE
54. “Yay, me!” TA-DA!
55. Neck and neck EVEN
56. Hole on the green SINK
57. Static jolt ZAP
58. Skater Midori ITO
59. Swig NIP

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