Skirret

[poliphilo]

I do the Telegraph cryptic crossword most days- and sometimes I learn something.

Today, for instance, I had to solve the clue, "Plant starts to ruin everything in border"- and the answer had to be "skirret". Only what's skirret?

I looked it up and found two meanings.

1. Skirret is a root vegetable, rather like parsnip only more peppery. It comes from China, was a favourite of the Emperor Tiberius and popular with the Tudors- but then fell out of favour because it's hard to grow commercially.  They're currently cultivating  it in the kitchen gardens at Hampton Court.

2. Skirret is the proper name for the peg and string tool used by builders to make sure their foundations and courses are running true. Freemasons use it as a symbol of straight dealing.

Comments

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

There are skirrets in Moonwise: "skirrets, runch, and madragora."

I've long wanted to try this skirret pie, with sack-laced custard, bone marrow, and dates.

Nine

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That would turn out rather like a modern mince pie, I think.

I'm very fond of mince pie.