FT 13,807

[barry.m]

Just one I'm not sure about this week. 9a: "Writer of science has pruned currant" (6) Looks like it should be scribe, but I cannot find any currant or fruit starting with ribe ?

[Lie-in King]

9a Scribe - sc(ience) + Ribe(s) (currant genus)

[Oldred]

http://www.freedictionary.org/?Query=ribes

[shaneystar2]

Yes scribe
Ribes is a currant

[baitress]

9a - scribe is correct.
sc = science = ribe(s)
ribes is the blackcurrant genus.

[barry.m]

Thank you very much, all 4 of you. I have the Shorter OED and there was no mention in there at all of any words beginning ribe other than one proper noun! Strange. But thank you - I have learnt something today.