Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus

Latest answer — September 01, 2026

21 Down

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Clue explained

TRACHEA is the breathing apparatus, or windpipe. The word contains ACHE, meaning “long” as a verb, held within the surrounding letters TR…A; the clue’s “mouth” supplies the surface’s anatomical setting.

Clue type:
Definition
An anatomical illustration showing the human trachea between the throat and lungs.

Times Cryptic Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, September 01, 2026 appearance

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Across

  1. 1Trademark gags in a humorous conversation
  2. 6State of country reflected delay
  3. 9Plant right within wetland
  4. 10As eyelids may be when about to conk out?
  5. 11Even money in Liverpool’s banks capped?
  6. 13Worried about pole, stake taken up?
  7. 14Red, sensual dresses I had sent back
  8. 16Kind of prepossessing
  9. 18Bob hit boxer?
  10. 20Judge, smart, arranging meeting
  11. 22Laid-back giant scrubbing back — busy?
  12. 24Barely inept, they had failed — as half-witted ex-husband and father-in-law?
  13. 26Exhilarated, top athlete
  14. 28Reporter’s robust greeting
  15. 29Salted crackers remained fresh
  16. 30Farm machinery, big hit

Down

  1. 2Heather last seen in tavern opening a second drink
  2. 3On fire editing novel
  3. 4Cold Indian vegetable with trace of fat
  4. 5Put away in the attic
  5. 6Finance young moneybags, footballing talent
  6. 7Scottish hero, squash champion?
  7. 8Where little intelligence is to be found, eh?
  8. 12Considered advice for writer
  9. 15Reporter, hack originally into contemporary music?
  10. 17Orangey red mist can start to envelop downs
  11. 19Note beneath temple, cave!
  12. 21Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus
  13. 23Significant part of Russia thawing was seen periodically
  14. 25Forward almost missing end of season
  15. 27Pickles are horrid, first of all — yuck!

The answer to “Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus” in the The Times Cryptic crossword is TRACHEA — a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 1, 2026, a Tuesday puzzle, at 21-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.

“Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus” answer

TRACHEA (7 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 TRACHEA.

What does TRACHEA mean?

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

(noun)

  • a large membranous tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, extending from the larynx to the bronchial tubes and conveying air to and from the lungs; the windpipe

When else has “Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus” appeared?

The Times Cryptic 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.

September 1, 2026 (most recent) → TRACHEA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus”?

The answer is TRACHEA, a 7-letter word. It most recently appeared in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 1, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus”?

7 letters: TRACHEA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the The Times Cryptic crossword on September 1, 2026 (a Tuesday puzzle), at 21-Down.

Can “Mouth mostly holds long, breathing apparatus” have a different answer?

Yes — The Times Cryptic 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 Times Cryptic answers?

The full grid for September 1, 2026 is on the Times Cryptic answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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

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