Bishop, but not priest

Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026

2 Down

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A chess bishop standing on a chessboard.

Clue explained

A bishop is a piece in chess, though outside the game the word usually names a member of the clergy. The chess bishop moves diagonally any number of unoccupied squares, which makes its reach different from a rook’s straight-line paths. Each player starts with two bishops, one on a light square and one on a dark square, and each stays on its original color throughout the game.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Monday, October 12, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Place for a mud bath
  2. 4Not just mine
  3. 8Smooth-talking
  4. 9Brazilian dance
  5. 10Sailor's "Yes, sir!"
  6. 12R&B; group with the 1995 #1 hit "Waterfalls"
  7. 13Let sleeping dogs ___
  8. 14Trial figure giving a firsthand account
  9. 19Recede, as the tide
  10. 20One of two in the game Catan
  11. 21Assign a starting value, in computer programming lingo ... or a phonetic hint to 10- and 14-Across?
  12. 25Nods off for a bit
  13. 26Tied, as shoes
  14. 27Org. with the Nets and Knicks
  15. 28Tons and tons

Down

  1. 1In a crafty way
  2. 2Bishop, but not priest
  3. 3"Shark Tank" airer
  4. 4Like Cheerios and some breakfast bars
  5. 5Thurman of "Kill Bill"
  6. 6Slugger's stat
  7. 7First word in the names of seven counties in California
  8. 8Golden ___ Bridge
  9. 9"Ammunition" for a class clown
  10. 11It might be disproved by a 14-Across
  11. 15Moistens
  12. 16Order from a monarch, say
  13. 17S, M, L and XL
  14. 18N.C.A.A. bracket assignment
  15. 21Holiday ___
  16. 22Catch red-handed
  17. 23Tap option at a craft brewery, for short
  18. 24Thai's neighbor

The answer to “Bishop, but not priest” in the New York Times Midi crossword is PIECE — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 2-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Bishop, but not priest” answer

PIECE (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is PIECE.

What does PIECE mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of PIECE is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(noun)

  • a portion of an object or of material, produced by cutting, tearing, or breaking the whole
  • a written, musical, or artistic creation
  • an instance or example

When else has “Bishop, but not priest” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 12, 2026 (most recent) → PIECE. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Bishop, but not priest”?

The answer is PIECE, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Bishop, but not priest”?

5 letters: PIECE.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 2-Down.

Can “Bishop, but not priest” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for October 12, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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