BAT by Schadenfreude

Puzzle explanation

The encryption code for the alphabet (excluding G, J, K, Q, Y, Z) is shown in the first table below. Apart from four encodings, this could be inferred from consideration of possible down words. Two further ones came from decoding the message from extra words in the clues, using the second table, which reverses the encryption. This message read “enter decoded row four as numerals in vacant cells” and row four uncoded read “two, one, six, three”, confirming the final two encodings. Altered down answers are shown in the third table below. The title BAT was PIN encoded.

ABCDEFGHIJKLM
OFMHSUDAPL
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
TEBNVRWXIC

ABCDEFGHIJKLM
IPXHOBDWMC
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
RALTENFSUV

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
Across
11 sacrificing AXIOMS MO < in AXIS
12 the LIVE LOAD ALL VIDEO *
13 rowing RATLINE TAR < + LINE
15 stupid PRAIRIE PAIR about R + IE
19 Northern ERUDITE DITE after (E + RU)
21 hanging SHEILAS SHES about (I’ + (Ade)LA(ide)) & lit
24 starts WELDOR WELD (obs, wield) + OR
25 my NOGG NOGGIN – IN
26 Equations MOON MOO + N
27 hopper REDBUD RED + BUD
30 sex MANNERS MAN + ONERS – O (love)
32 hand-out AGA SAGA AGA + SAG + A
38 nomads IRATELY (I + ELY) about RAT
39 equipment RELEASE RE + LEASE
40 indignity EVITABLE EVIL – L + TABLE
41 urbane COARSE Homophone (course)
Down
1 Extended BARREL BARRE + L
2 woman NITE NICE, T for C
3 no-trumps VOLED E in (V + OLD)
4 officer EMIT ME < (one formally) + IT (sexual activity)
5 VIP O LEVEL O (over) + LEVE(E) + L
6 troupe PIPAS A in PIPS
7 website HEARER HER about (A + RE)
8 Lawyers SLIDING SIDING (lie) about L(arge)
9 Steep TORN TO (for) + RN (N. Am)
10 novel ADES Hidden
14 operational AIR-TO-AIR AIRT + O’ + AIR
16 personal ISAGOGES I’S + AGOG + E’S
17 vaguely STEERS TEER in (S + S)
18 attracts CHOUGH Two definitions (one is dialect)
20 thyme UDON (yo)U + DON
22 xenon LOMA (O + LAMP – P) *
23 ochre ANNATTO A TAN, NOT *
27 movong REHEAR HE in REAR
28 often BARRET BRAT * about RE
29 trees CAREEN REE in (CA + N)
31 rotation STYLE STYE about L
33 mould STEAL ’S + TEAL
34 Strikers LIEU LIE + U
35 possibly SAIM AI in (S + M)
36 pleasing CLOW C + LOW
37 vitalises BARF BAR + F
Back to 2009 menu