| STOB | A stake or stump, or an awl (4) |
| PICK | A plectrum; a mattock; the best or most choice; or, an awl-like tool for chipping/splitting blocks of ice (4) |
| POST | A stake or upright marking the start or finish of a horse race; or, a collection or delivery of mail (4) |
| QUOITS | Traditional pub game in which rings are aimed towards a stake or hob (6) |
| BAIL | A bucket for ladling water from a boat; a partition in a stable; a bar on a typewriter; a hoop; a semicircular handle; a crosspiece bridging a wicket's stumps; or, a temporary release from custody (4) |
| SNAG | A sausage; a stump; or, a trunk in a riverbed that is interfering with navigation, hence any obstacle (4) |
| HOLE | What an awl makes |
| HAFT | Part of an awl |
| BIT | From Old English for "mouthful", a crumb, morsel or scrap; a bridle's snaffle or other metal mouthpiece; any small coin or piece; an awl for a brace or a drill; or, a brief space of time (3) |
| SEED | Capital invested in a startup company in exchange for an equity stake or convertible note stake in the company (4,5) |
| PILE | Stack of coins; large building; heavy stake; or, a set of weights (4) |
| PEGS | Croquet stakes; cricket stumps; or, wooden bolts, such as the figurative square example in a round hole, referred to when alluding to misfits (4) |
| ISAT | Words before stake or risk |
| BETS | Stakes or risks (4) |
| TORSO | Word for a core, plant stalk or stump first, later the trunk of the human body; a nude statue of said corporal bole; or, a painting or a musical piece left short, truncated or unfinished (5) |
| LAIDLOW | Hid in an idol carved with an awl (4,3) |
| BLOCK | Term for a log or stump, later a wooden chopping-board, a portion of butter/ice cream, a pad of paper or a mould for shaping hats |
| STILETTO | A small poniard-like dagger whose name was given to a spike heel and an awl for making eyelets (8) |
| LASTROW | Final quarrel over an awl to sort out (4,3) |
| NOG | Old word for a peg of wood; a snag or stump; strong Norfolk ale or beer; or, a flip-like drink (3) |
