Sailboat propeller
Editorially verified for the Oct 12, 2026
37 Down
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Clue explainedFact checked
Wind is a sailboat’s propeller in the sense that it provides the force that drives the boat. The sails catch the moving air and turn its push into forward motion; unlike a motorboat, a sailboat doesn’t need a mechanical propeller to move.
- Clue type:
- Pun or wordplay
NYT Crossword
This clue's Monday, October 12, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Sailboat propeller” in the New York Times crossword is WIND — a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 12, 2026, a Monday puzzle, at 37-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.
“Sailboat propeller” answer
WIND (4 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 WIND.
What does WIND mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of WIND is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(noun)
- the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction
- breath as needed in physical exertion, speech, etc., or the power of breathing without difficulty in such situations
- air swallowed while eating or gas generated in the stomach and intestines by digestion
When else has “Sailboat propeller” 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.
October 12, 2026 (most recent) → WIND. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Sailboat propeller”?
The answer is WIND, a 4-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times crossword on October 12, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Sailboat propeller”?
4 letters: WIND.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times crossword on October 12, 2026 (a Monday puzzle), at 37-Down.
Can “Sailboat propeller” 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 October 12, 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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