Add a Letter Posers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lucky plucky

Lucky is an adjective dating from the mid fifteenth century, and is derived from the Dutch word for luck - 'gheluc'. Plucky comes from pluck, the inner organs of animals, and, figuratively, from there to describe courage coming from the heart or stomach, as in 'to have the stomach for a fight'.

Answer: Star stare

The word star is an adaptation of the Old English word 'steorra'. As well as describing the stars we see in the night sky, it can also refer to any star shaped object or well known people, such as film stars. Old English is also the source of stare, meaning to gaze at someone, not originally in a rude way, although staring at someone is now considered unacceptable.

Answer: River driver

River derives from the French name, which is 'riviere', and describes a large body of flowing water which normally empties into the sea. A driver in golf is also known as a 1-wood and is one of the clubs used to send the ball a long distance. A driver can also refer to someone in charge of a vehicle, either on the road or on tracks.

Answer: Morse morsel

Samuel Morse was the inventor of the code which bears his name in the first half of the nineteenth century. It is used to send messages via telegraph, with letters being denoted by a series of short and long notes (dots and dashes). A morsel is often used to describe a particularly tasty piece of food.

The word in English dates from Middle English, derived from Old French and originally from the Latin word 'morsum'.

Answer: Angling tangling

Angling is used specifically for fishing with a rod, line and hook, and use of the word dates from the late fifteenth century. Tangling derives from Middle English, where it meant to become embroiled in an awkward situation - an entanglement.

Answer: Airing fairing

The definition of airing in the question refers to a radio or television programme, but it can also mean the drying of clothes outside, or an excursion in the open air. A fairing refers to a windshield on a motorcycle to offer protection from rain and wind. It is also used in connection with watercraft and aeroplanes for an attachment to reduce drag.

Answer: Lair laird

A lair describes a den used by a wild animal to hide or rest, and can also be used in respect of a hideaway used by outlaws such as pirates. Laird is the Scottish version of lord, referring to a landowner, particularly of a large estate. The word dates from the fifteenth century.

Answer: Cree creek

The Cree are a large group of people native to many parts of Canada, and also living in the USA, particularly in Montana. A creek is one of several names referring to a small body of moving water; stream and brook are others. Creek can also apply to another native American people, but that would have been just too confusing.

Answer: Alley valley

The word alley dates back to the second half of the fourteenth century, and is an English version of the French 'aller'. It refers to a small passageway, often between terraced houses, to give access to the rear of the properties. It is also used in sports, as in bowling alley, and the lines on the outside of a tennis court. Valley's etymology is the same, deriving from the French 'valee', which also gives us vale.

A valley is a depression between hills or mountains.

Answer: Ape tape

In this instance, ape refers to the act of being a mimic, rather than being a primate without a tail. Going ape can also mean becoming over-excited or extremely angry. Tape can refer to a strip of material, or a measuring device, but the definition I gave you was for magnetic tape, used for recording sound or pictures.