| MERLE | Archaic or literary Scots term for a blackbird (5) |
| OUSEL | Now archaic term for a blackbird (5) |
| RLS | Literary Scot who died in Samoa: inits. |
| STEED | From Old English for "stallion" or "stud", an archaic or literary word for a swift spirited horse or charger (5) |
| ABYSM | Archaic or literary term for a deep hole |
| MIDST | In the middle of (archaic or literary) |
| MAINS | Scots term for a home farm (5) |
| CLOOT | Scots term for a cloth (5) |
| BICKER | Scots term for a wooden bowl for liquor or a staved vessel for porridge; a mischievous dash or quick scamper; a clattering noise; most notably, an altercation, petty squabble, quarrel or wrangle; or, |
| DRAMA | A comedy or tragedy, for example, symbolised by the masks of Thalia and Melpomene; plays as a genre or literary style; or, histrionics generally (5) |
| EMMET | Archaic or dialect word for a tourist in Cornwall (5) |
| DERRINGDO | Archaic or literary term meaning a daring spirit or bold action (7-2) |
| BARD | Archaic or literary term for a poet (4) |
| INGLE | An archaic or dialect name for a fireplace |
| OUZEL | The ring ____ is a thrush similar to a blackbird |
| ANON | Archaic or literary word meaning in one (instant), at once; soon; now and again; or, in reply to a call, coming (4) |
| ERIN | Archaic or literary name for Ireland (4) |
| MOTIF | A distinctive feature or dominant idea in artistic or literary composition |
| TOPOI | Traditional themes or motifs or literary conventions (5) |
| MAVIS | Regional or literary name of the song thrush or "throstle" (5) |
