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Nice to see the on-line problem now solved. But cannot understand the nine letter answer for Shakesperian fool affected one circling the chamber. Clearly pot is in there but what is it? Any ideas would be welcome.

I'm not sure if you want just a hint, but
It's an abbreviation of 'pot' in a 6 letter hyphenated word for affected, + A (one)

Got the 6 letter part, but an abbreviation of 'pot'? (Started quite well, but hit a wall - actually, that would probably be less painful!)

po1 noun (pos) colloq a chamberpot.
ETYMOLOGY: 19c: contracted from French pot de chambre.

The word didn't come up in the on-line word finders I tried, (including Chambers) but it is in my printed edition.

Thank you - I'll plough on ...

Sorry to be late responding. Would I be correct in saying that this very obscure reference is to the blockhead in Troilus.?

Yes, it is, Cedric - but the word has also found its way into Chambers so maybe not totally obscure?

Thanks Malone-I am used to this brilliant setter coming up with matters obscure but this was way up there! Thanks all for help.

Cedric, you're welcome. I think the Azed setter loves tracking down words that are totally obscure to most solvers, but are valid enough to be used.

Yes Malone- over the years he has come up with some real teasers. Which leads me to the parsing of 1 across. Beef I take it is pet or runt a scut However are the hookers the ladies of the night or the curtain fitters?