Krzyżówki - crosswords, roads and mallards

I've been using Polish crosswords as a way to expand my vocabulary and Polish cultural knowledge. It has also tested my broader general knowledge and taught me some niche English words. 


One thing that has only just struck me is that the Polish word for crossword, krzyżowka, has other meanings. 

Crossword

Cross-breed 

Mallard (duck) - kaczka krzyżówka 

Crossroads (col. that is to say: colloquial use, or should I say pot.  See below)

Another thing that took some getting used to was the abbreviations in crossword clues. So far, I have come across the following abbreviations:

Hol. - holenderski / holend - Dutch

Urz. - urząd, urzędowy - Office / official

Pot. - potoczny, potocznie - colloquial 

Przest. - przestępczy - criminal

Pd. - południe - south / southern

Daw. - dawny, dawniej - former

Przen. - przenośny, przenośnie - figurative 

Lit. - literatura - literature

Zdr. - zdrowie - health

Reg. - regionalizm, regionalny - regional


My blog posts on things I have learned from krzyżówki:

Crossword Knowledge 1 - Lenino (battle), Pieprz i Wanilia (programme) and Napitek (booze)

Crossword Knowledge 2 - Atol and Roman Dmowski

Crossword Knowledge 3 - Dukt, teina and hala

Crossword Knowledge 4 - Lont (fuse) short fuse, strajk kobiet, Wiktor Zin and Piórkiem i węglem

Crossword Knowledge 5 - Being someone's rock (opoka), alum (ałum), Masonic lodge (Loża Masońska)

Crossword Knowledge 6 - Types of peninsula (półwysep): cypel and przylądek.  Archipelag 

Crossword Knowledge 7 - Itaka (Ithaca), Ares, Pean.

Crossword Knowledge 8 - Mat, majtka, dzachy, dać mata

Crossword Knowledge 9 - Kopka, żadna praca nie hańbo

Crossword Knowledge 10 - Names of kitchen knives

Crossword Knowledge 11 - Chemical Elements.  

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