Guardian 25,119

[debarri]

13 down I understand the wordplay, but no the definition - 'sword-holders'. Why are frogs sword holders?

[Sholver]

Frogging is the strapping used militarily to hand the scabbard and suchlike

[jwbr]

frogs are bayonet holders attached to the belt

[geo0939]

When I was a soldier the part of the webbing which held the bayonet was a frog. I assume this is the connection.

[debarri]

Thanks everyone. I just googled 'frogs sword-holder' and the answer became clear, although I don't think a bayonet is a sword, is it?

[geo0939]

I did explain that this was a connection, since modern soldiers don't go to war carrying swords. The bayonet is an attachment which turns a rifle into a sword.