Times 2857

[PhantomX]

22ac This might make painter tell a tale (4) -A-N
PAIN or RAIN ?

[roslyn251254]

YARN

[klazomaniac]

Yarn
A painter is a sail

[klazomaniac]

Please forgive my effort. A painter is a rope. I saw the nautical connection. OOPs ;-(

[Neveracrossword]

Klazo, I was happy with my Yarn...

[klazomaniac]

Thanks NAC. I have just seen roslyns answer also.
And as I got confused between Rope and Sail, I have to say the parse evades me.

[scorpiojo]

Yarn is both a sail and a tale

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Scorpio - I assumed that was the case, but just stuck in the answer anyway!

[klazomaniac]

Thanks Scorpio. That was my reasoning at the first attempt. But I checked Chambers after I had answered an the Def is a Rope [Not a sail] as I had thought.

[brainiac]

Yarn isn't a sail - it can used to make a painter, ie a rope attached to the bow of a boat

[klazomaniac]

That makes sense. Thank you Brainiac :-)

[scorpiojo]

A tell-tale, in a nautical or sailing context, is a piece of yarn or fabric attached to a sail, a stay, or any rigging on a sailboat. Typically, a tell-tale is on a port and a starboard stay

[klazomaniac]

Wonderful Scorpio. I live and learn :-)

[scorpiojo]

Me too :-)