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Elle, I don't know where your 'doses' came from - maybe you have a very strict spellchecker that didn't like 'undies', as in the clue?

It was the 'i' in Frillies that I couldn't parse. It's a pretty bad clue anyway!

Hello, Elle,
I think I am with Pigale and you regarding parsing.
I think it is a stinking clue.
Why Hoskins? Why not a word we all know, like "Henry" or "horse"
What is a hoskins?
I thought in clothing, extra small was "xs"?
Anyway, I enjoyed my walk and it is a great day!

Rusty - I took it that the 'frillies' were 'small undies', with the 'extra' being there to provide the 'e'. (Like you, I don't think ES would equal Extra Small).

Very sorry, that was a typo, Pigale - as you will see from my definition when I put frillies =undies!
( that's what happens when trying to heat the soup at the same time! I obviously cannot multi-task!)
What do you think of the Hoskins reference? do you think that accounts from whence my thought / remembrance of 'Hoskins' meaning cockney ref. came?

Elle, I think you're correct with the Hoskins = East End bloke/geezer, someone who'd say 'frill' for 'thrill'. It really is a dire clue. (I don't think I could come up with something better, but I'm not a crossword setter or editor.)

Elle, I don't know whether they chose Hoskins as an example or if is now recognised as meaning 'Cockney' - but me and Cockney.........

if i can butt in, i think Hoskins may have set this crossword. then Hoskins = i, ecstasy = e
frill = extra, and small = s.

I did not realize he was a crossword setter ?

Thanks, Trevor - that all makes sense. I have to confess that I don't even look to see a setter's name (too many years of the Times crosswords, with all setters being anonymous). I have now checked - and yes, Hoskins, did set today's crossword!

That'll teach me to look for Londonisms when they're not there.

Malone, my thinking is (and I shall certainly give way to the ladies on this one!) that frillies could be any size?
There are quite a few large ladies knocking about and I imagine their frillies will not be extra small?
An awful clue at any rate!