Quick Answer
Clue: “Bit of clothing for a snowman”
Answer: SCARF
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 1-Across
The New York Times crossword clue “Bit of clothing for a snowman” is answered with SCARF, filling the opening across entry of the grid.
Why SCARF Is the Right NYT Answer
- A scarf is the classic piece of clothing wrapped around a snowman’s “neck” in winter scenes, so it matches the clue’s wording and image perfectly. Answer keys and helper sites for the January 27, 2026 NYT Mini explicitly list SCARF as the 5-letter solution for 1-Across.
- Other items sometimes put on a snowman—like HAT or VEST—either have the wrong length or do not fit the confirmed letter pattern from crossings, making SCARF the only clean fill.
What SCARF Means in Plain English
- A scarf is a long piece of cloth worn around the neck, head, or shoulders for warmth or decoration. In snowman imagery, the scarf adds both “warmth” and personality, which is why it is such a standard part of the cartoon snowman look.
- Because the word is short, common, and uses friendly letters, SCARF is a popular choice for crossword constructors across many outlets.
Crossword-Specific Help for SCARF
- In the grid, SCARF appears as S C A R F, and you might see patterns like S_ARF, SC_RF, or _CARF once some crossings are filled.
- As 1-Across, it provides the starting letters for all five down entries in this Mini SHINE, CUMIN, AMPLE, ROLE, and FRY which in turn confirm the S-C-A-R-F sequence.
- SCARF is not obscure “crosswordese”; it is straightforward vocabulary that often appears under friendly clues like “Neckwear,” “Winter wrap,” or “Bit of clothing for a snowman.”
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- For winter- or snowman-themed clues like “Neckwear for a snowman,” “Winter neck warmer,” or “Frigid-weather wrap,” think of SCARF first for a 5-letter answer.
- Use crossings: initial S from SHINE and final F from FRY (in this puzzle) quickly narrow options to SCARF. Patterns like S_ARF or SCAR_ are strong tells.
Remember that SCARF can also be clued by its verb sense (“eat quickly”), but when a clue mentions snow, winter, or clothing, it almost always targets the garment.
