Bird coming from meagre beginnings (5) Crossword Clue
Answer: GREBE (5 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Bird coming from meagre beginnings" with 5 letters is "GREBE". Grebe is a type of aquatic bird, and the clue cleverly hints at it using wordplay: “meagre beginnings” refers to the first letters of G and R from “GReat BE” forming the start of the word. Grebes are excellent swimmers and divers, often found on freshwater lakes and ponds, known for their elaborate mating dances.
Why “Grebe” Fits
The clue asks for a 5-letter word defined by bird, with clever wordplay in coming from meagre beginnings. The answer, GREBE, fits neatly:
- Bird: A grebe is a freshwater diving bird with distinctive plumage and striking mating displays.
- Meagre beginnings: The wordplay points to the beginnings (first letters) of “mEaGre BEginnings,” which spell GREBE.
The clue combines a straight definition with a classic acrostic device, making it concise and witty.
- Grebes belong to the family Podicipedidae and are found worldwide.
- Known for their elaborate courtship dances and excellent swimming ability, they build floating nests on lakes and ponds.
- Unlike many birds, their feet are lobed rather than webbed, adapted for diving.
The bird is a crossword favourite because of its unusual letter pattern — useful for setters and solvers alike.
- Clues that say from beginnings, at first, or initially often hint at an acrostic or first-letter clue.
- Here, spotting that “meagre beginnings” refers to taking the starting letters unlocks the answer instantly.
Recognizing these signals is a core crossword-solving skill that helps when the definition is short and direct, as with “bird.”
