Mini #16 — the answers

The Mini crossword from September 17, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Corn holder — COB
2. 4. Sniper’s attachment — SCOPE
3. 6. Ship of the desert — CAMEL
4. 7. Free ___ (unsigned player) — AGENT
5. 8. Volleyball divider — NET

Down

1. 1. Reindeer next to Cupid — COMET
2. 2. U.S. ___ (tennis event) — OPEN
3. 3. Asteroid ___ — BELT
4. 4. Airport security procedure — SCAN
5. 5. Nicolas of "National Treasure" — CAGE

The walkthrough

One way through: start at 1-Across, then let each answer feed the words it crosses — the slot with the most letters already showing is the one to fill next.

1. 1-Across, “Corn holder” — nothing given yet: COB.
2. 1-Down, “Reindeer next to Cupid” — C···· from the crossings: COMET.
3. 4-Across, “Sniper’s attachment” — ··O·· from the crossings: SCOPE.
4. 2-Down, “U.S. ___ (tennis event)” — OP·· from the crossings: OPEN.
5. 6-Across, “Ship of the desert” — ··ME· from the crossings: CAMEL.
6. 3-Down, “Asteroid ___” — BEL· from the crossings: BELT.
7. 7-Across, “Free ___ (unsigned player)” — ··ENT from the crossings: AGENT.
8. 4-Down, “Airport security procedure” — SCA· from the crossings: SCAN.
9. 5-Down, “Nicolas of "National Treasure"” — CAG· from the crossings: CAGE.
10. 8-Across, “Volleyball divider” — already spelled out by its crossings: NET.

The answer

Previous: Mini #15 (Wed, Sep 16) · Next: Mini #17 (Fri, Sep 18)

About Mini

Mini is Noggin’s five-by-five crossword, on the second shelf: one grid a day against the clock, outside the daily line-up. How to play Mini, or play today’s.