Shelter in a mac, say (4) Crossword Clue
Answer: COTE (4 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Shelter in a mac, say" with 4 letters is "COTE".Cote refers to a small shelter or enclosure, often used for animals like pigeons or doves. It is also sometimes used to describe a simple, rustic dwelling or refuge, typically found in rural areas, and can be metaphorically linked to any cozy or protective space.
Why “Cote” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (4 letters) meaning “shelter,” with cryptic wordplay suggested by the phrase “in a mac, say.” The answer, COTE, fits exactly:
- Shelter: A cote is a small shelter or shed for animals, especially pigeons, sheep, or doves.
- Direct match: With 4 letters, cote matches the clue’s enumeration perfectly.
- Wordplay hint: The phrase “in a mac, say” indicates a homophone — “mac” or “coat” being suggestive of cote through phonetic similarity (“say” implies ‘sounds like’).
The word cote is a traditional English term for a simple dwelling or animal shelter:
- Origin and usage: From Old English cot or cote, meaning “hut” or “small house.” Related words include “cottage,” which shares the same linguistic root.
- Contexts: Usually found in literary or rural references, as in dove-cote, sheep-cote, or cow-cote.
- Examples: “A white dove fluttered near the cote,” or “The shepherd built a new cote for his flock.”
Quick crossword clues like “Shelter in a mac, say (4)” often rely on homophones or wordplay through sound:
- “Say” is a common homophone indicator, signaling that the answer sounds like another word.
- Here, “mac” suggests coat (a raincoat), and coat sounds like cote.
- The definition “shelter” aligns perfectly with the meaning of cote.
- With clear sound-based wordplay, rural imagery, and exact length, cote is the correct crossword solution.
