Bases of shipbuilding

Latest answer — January 15, 2026

42 Across

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NYT Crossword

This clue's Thursday, January 15, 2026 appearance

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The answer to “Bases of shipbuilding” in the New York Times crossword is KEELS — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on January 15, 2026, a Thursday puzzle, at 42-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.

“Bases of shipbuilding” answer

KEELS (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 KEELS.

Why the answer is KEELS

KEELS is the 5-letter solution that fits "Bases of shipbuilding" in the NYT Crossword crossword on January 15, 2026 (42-Across). Use the letter tiles above if you'd rather reveal it one letter at a time.

What does KEELS mean?

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

(noun)

  • the lengthwise timber or steel structure along the base of a ship, supporting the framework of the whole, in some vessels extended downwards as a ridge to increase stability
  • a ridge along the breastbone of many birds to which the flight muscles are attached; the carina
  • a prow-shaped pair of petals present in flowers of the pea family

When else has “Bases of shipbuilding” appeared?

New York Times 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.

January 15, 2026 (most recent) → KEELS. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Bases of shipbuilding”?

The answer is KEELS, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on January 15, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Bases of shipbuilding”?

5 letters: KEELS.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times crossword on January 15, 2026 (a Thursday puzzle), at 42-Across.

Can “Bases of shipbuilding” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times 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 Crossword answers?

The full grid for January 15, 2026 is on the NYT Crossword answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times 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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