The New York Times Crossword · 22-Down · 6 letters
Nuts whose shells look like they have little berets The New York Times Crossword clue
Editorially reviewed August 19, 2026
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What to notice
Picture the capped seeds that fall from oak trees.
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Answer
How the trick resolves
An acorn’s cupule sits on top of the nut like a tiny cap or beret. The clue turns that visual resemblance into a playful description of plural ACORNS.
Continue this puzzleForfends →The turn in the clue
The whimsical comparison to berets asks you to picture an object’s shape rather than recall a strict dictionary definition.
The answer in plain English
The nuts of oak trees, each held partly inside a small cup-shaped cap.
Where this clue appeared
22-Down in The New York Times Crossword puzzle for August 18, 2026.
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