First animal in the Chinese zodiac
Editorially verified for the Oct 15, 2026
9 Across
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Clue explained
The rat is first in the traditional Chinese zodiac, a cycle of twelve animals. A popular origin story says the animals raced to determine their order: the rat rode on the ox’s back, then jumped ahead at the finish. The tale gives the small animal a clever way to claim the top spot, and the zodiac’s sequence is still used to associate birth years with animals.
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- Definition
NYT Midi Crossword
This clue's Thursday, October 15, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “First animal in the Chinese zodiac” in the New York Times Midi crossword is RAT — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 15, 2026 at 9-Across. 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.
“First animal in the Chinese zodiac” answer
RAT (3 letters)
Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's RAT.
What does RAT mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of RAT is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- a rodent that resembles a large mouse, typically having a pointed snout and a long tail. Some kinds have become cosmopolitan and are sometimes responsible for transmitting diseases
- a despicable person, especially a man who has been deceitful or disloyal
- a person who is associated with or frequents a specified place
When else has “First animal in the Chinese zodiac” 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 15, 2026 (most recent) → RAT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “First animal in the Chinese zodiac”?
The answer is RAT, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 15, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “First animal in the Chinese zodiac”?
3 letters: RAT.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 15, 2026, at 9-Across.
Can “First animal in the Chinese zodiac” 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 today's NYT Midi answers?
Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Midi answers page.
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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