Mini #40 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 11, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Boat with oars — ROW
2. 4. Cab — TAXI
3. 5. Lucky number — SEVEN
4. 6. Eager — KEEN
5. 7. Country lodging — INN

Down

1. 1. Black bird — RAVEN
2. 2. Yoked pair — OXEN
3. 3. Come first — WIN
4. 4. High schooler — TEEN
5. 5. Slope glider — SKI

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, “Boat with oars” — nothing given yet: ROW.
2. 1-Down, “Black bird” — R···· from the crossings: RAVEN.
3. 4-Across, “Cab” — ·A·· from the crossings: TAXI.
4. 2-Down, “Yoked pair” — OX·· from the crossings: OXEN.
5. 5-Across, “Lucky number” — ··VE· from the crossings: SEVEN.
6. 3-Down, “Come first” — already spelled out by its crossings: WIN.
7. 6-Across, “Eager” — ··EN from the crossings: KEEN.
8. 4-Down, “High schooler” — TEE· from the crossings: TEEN.
9. 7-Across, “Country lodging” — ·NN from the crossings: INN.
10. 5-Down, “Slope glider” — already spelled out by its crossings: SKI.

The answer

Previous: Mini #39 (Sat, Oct 10)

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.