The Meaning of "American"

What does the word "American" in cryptic clues stand for?

A look at what it could mean.

Standard Abbreviation

"American" is most often an abbreviation for US, sometimes for USA, AM or A. As in:

FT 13131 (Alberich): Taking excessive interest in American fellow kicked off outrage (5)
USURY, charade of US {-f}URY.

Guardian 24730 (Arachne): Perhaps Tom meets South American in America (5, 3)
UNCLE SAM, charade of UNCLE (from "perhaps, Tom") S AM.

Americanism Indicator

"American" can suggest that a word required in the answer is an American one – in usage, spelling, or pronunciation. Instead of the word "American", the name of an American city could also be used.

Examples:

FT 13143 (Bradman): Issue with American racists leading to fuss in one state (8) COLOR ADO
"American" indicates the US spelling of "colour".

Times 24097: Killed a great number in Chicago (4) SLEW dd
"slew" also means "a great number" in American usage.

Solve These!

Try solving these clues that use "American" in the Americanism sense.

Times 24208: A party connected with, e.g., American red or blue state (8)
Times Championship 2009 Qualifier 2: Push one's way through American street (6)
Times 24287: American sank last of our port (5)

Related Posts:

• Crossword Abbreviations
• "About" in Cryptic Clues
• "Charge" in Cryptic Clues – I
• "Charge" in Cryptic Clues - II

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