Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

I didn't listen to that interview, so my first take was a 3-letter word for a "great edifice" like maybe the WTC.

Reading the responses in this thread, it now seems clear that Shortsz used a long "O" when he gave his clue. So that explains where Ron is going, but also leaves possibilities like "GMC," "RAM," and for that matter "ass."

And nelgin, yes, numbers in crossword puzzle aren't common, but I've seen them used on occasion. And isn't Sudoku essentially just a number crossword puzzle?

TUG was also my first (and best) independent thought on this matter. But lots of these ideas are excellent answers with great merit. Without additional info, it will be hard to resolve.

With Heimhenge, I've worked a few crosswords in which numbers appear. In one case, there was a lot of delightful ambiguity around numbers, their spellings and their sounds. The clue might point to FABFOUR or FANTASTIC4 (which might intersect with 4EVER), and TIMBUK2 might intersect with B52 on their final squares.

I've also worked some crosswords in which various other symbols appear: a single * might substitute for words containing "STAR" e.g. "At the beginning of a marathon" and you have 9 squares: *TINGLINE (which might intersect with "a gravy thickener" CORN*CH). And one in which a dot might stand for various synonyms even different ones in intersection: AP.MENT might intersect with ANTI.E or DE.IC

I'm with Dick. I'm sure there's something more to this. Here's a few of my guesses ...

1. rocketpack

2. quintcycle (if human-propelled, the "gas" is in the tires and lungs)

3. submarines or ambulances (again, the "gas" is both inside or in the tires, but this is a stretch since the question is posed in the singular)

And my final guess, stretching even further the meaning of "vehicle" to "means of delivery"

4. filibuster ( the "gas" component here needs no explanation)

How about Helicopter? Not only does it run on ("start with") gas -- albeit a higher quality gasoline than automotive gasoline -- but also the first two letters are He, the chemical symbol for Helium, which is a gas, so the word itself starts with gas.

I started with that idea, then convinced myself that no such 10-letter word for a vehicle existed. That's when I punted to look for gaseous elements at the head.