Word Search Triples - Animal Edition Quiz

Answer: Cat

The three words are: KIN (top row), SUIT (diagonally up from bottom row) and COPY (first column).

A catkin is a spike of flowers produced by various plants and trees, particularly those belonging to the beech, birch, mulberry and willow families. Catkins generally hang down below branches and their pollen is usually distributed by the wind.

A catsuit is a tight, form-fitting outfit, usually worn by a woman. Examples worn on film include Halle Berry's costume when she played the title role in the 2004 film 'Catwoman'.

A copycat is not a cat, but a person who imitates or plagiarises the work of another. More seriously, the term 'copycat' is often applied to a criminal who deliberately commits a crime in a similar manner to a previous, unrelated incident, for example a copycat killer may kill their victim using a method associated with another murderer.

Answer: Dog

The three words are: LEG (going up fourth column), HANG (top row) and HOUSE (first column).

A dogleg is a deviation in a route or shape. For example, a hole on a golf course that bends around a corner is described as having a 'dogleg' in it, or a set of stairs that turns part way up can be called a dog-leg staircase.

A hangdog look is an expression that conveys guilt, sorrow or dejection. Presumably it could derive from the cute apologetic face employed by a puppy that has just failed some aspect of its training.

The term doghouse could just be a synonym for a kennel, but more usually it relates to the phrase "in the doghouse", meaning that you have angered someone and as a result are now deeply unpopular with them.

Answer: Sheep

The three words are: SKIN (backwards along top row), SHANK (last column) and BLACK (diagonally from top left corner).

Put simply, sheepskin is, as the name suggests, the skin of a sheep. However, the term refers to its use after it has been removed from the unfortunate sheep in question and made into, for example, clothing or rugs (if the fleece is still attached) or turned into leather for bookbinding (without the fleece attached - for obvious reasons).

A sheepshank is a type of knot with a loop at each end, often used on sailing boats, and handy for removing slack from a rope. However, it is not the most secure type of knot and has a tendency to come apart if subjected to either too little or too much tension.

While different breeds of sheep can have either white or black fleeces, a black sheep is specifically an idiomatic term for a disreputable or peculiar member of a family or other group of people.

Answer: Bull

The three words are: DOZER (centre row), RING (backwards on second row) and RED (final column).

A bulldozer is a piece of heavy machinery used for pushing around large amounts of soil or rubble on a building site. Specifically, it also has tracks rather than open wheels to allow for improved mobility over rough ground.

A bullring is an arena used to house bullfighting displays and tournaments. They are most commonly found in Spain and share some architectural features with Roman amphitheatres. The Bull Ring is also the name of a large shopping centre in the UK city of Birmingham as well as a Neolithic henge in Derbyshire.

Red Bull is the name of an energy drink company who also sponsor a wide range of sporting teams and events, from the world championship-winning Red Bull Racing F1 team to the New York Red Bulls soccer team and the annual Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

Answer: Lion

The three words are: HEART (diagonally from top left corner), KING (just below HEART diagonally) and FISH (just above HEART diagonally).

King Richard I of England, who reigned from 1189 to 1199, is also known by the nickname Richard the Lionheart (or, in French, Richard Coeur de Lion). He gained such a flattering nickname because of his prowess and bravery on the battlefield. 'Lionheart' is also the name of a 1990 action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.

'The Lion King' is a 1994 animated Disney film starring a young lion cub named Simba who overcomes the death of his father to eventually cement his place as King of the Pride Lands. Lions are often nicknamed "kings of the jungle", despite the fact that they actually live on Africa's savannahs and grasslands.

A lionfish is a type of fish rather than a type of lion. It is the common name given to members of the Pterois genus, which are noted for their dramatic appearance and venomous spines.

Answer: Bear

The three words are: ABLE (up final column), FORE (diagonally from bottom left corner) and TEDDY (fourth column).

If something is bearable than it is manageable or can be coped with. The word is often used in connection to levels of pain.

A forebear is one of your ancestors. While technically it could refer to your mother or father, it is more typically used in a historical sense to refer to people who lived many generations or centuries ago.

A teddy bear may well be one of a child's (or a nostalgic adult's) most treasured possessions. These soft toys originated in the early 20th century and the 'teddy' part of their name comes from the US President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. Famous teddy bears from entertainment include Winnie the Pooh, Paddington and SuperTed.

Answer: Wolf

The three words are: LONE (centre row), CRIED (top row) and WERE (up fourth column).

Wolves are pack animals, so generally live together in large, well-organised groups. A lone wolf is one which has been driven away from its pack and left to fend for itself. The term is also applied to humans who choose to act independently and prefer spending at least some time on their own.

If you have "cried wolf" (like the boy in a particular fairy tale) then you have delivered a warning that turned out to be false or unnecessary. The danger of doing this too often is that you won't be believed in the event of a real emergency.

A werewolf is a mythical creature that spends most of its time in human form, but becomes a dangerous wolf whenever there is a full moon. Apparently, if you get bitten by a werewolf then you are doomed to become one yourself, so it might be prudent to arm yourself with some silver, the only substance believed to be effective against them...

Answer: Monkey

The three words are: BARS (top row), PUZZLE (diagonally from top right corner) and WRENCH (diagonally from top left corner).

Monkey bars are a type of playground equipment where children can hang from their arms and swing from one section to another - in the style of a monkey swinging through the branches in the jungle.

A monkey puzzle is a type of tree with the Latin name Araucaria araucana. It is native to the southern part of South America and produces large, edible nuts.

A monkey wrench is a type of adjustable spanner developed in the United States in the early 19th century. The term can also be used as a verb to describe an act of sabotage or protest.

Answer: Pig

The three words are: EONS (up fifth column), TAILS (second column) and HEADED (bottom row).

Pigeons belong to the Columbidae family, along with doves (which generally have a much better reputation). They are one of the most widespread types of bird living around the world, with the Arctic, Antarctic and parts of the Sahara and Arabian deserts amongst the few areas where you won't be able to find one.

Pigtails are a type of hairstyle, typically worn by young girls, where the hair is usually braided and pulled back into either a single bunch or a pair of bunches. However, in different countries the exact details of styles known as 'pigtails' can differ.

If you are pig-headed then you are stubborn and unlikely to listen to reason. You're also likely to have more success with a difficult puzzle, since you'll be less likely to give up before you've managed to solve it!

Answer: Horse

The three words are: RADISH (up third column), ROCKING (backwards on centre row) and CLOTHES (backwards on second row).

Horseradish is a plant belonging to the same family as cabbage and broccoli, but is a root vegetable generally used as a spice or condiment. Horseradish sauce is a traditional accompaniment to roast beef in the United Kingdom.

A rocking horse is a toy on which a child can sit and pretend that they are riding a horse. Top quality examples are finely carved and painted to look like a miniature horse and can even have real horsehair in their manes and tails.

A clothes horse is another name for a folding clothes rack or airer, on which wet clothing can be hung up to dry. It usually consists of a connected framework of bars and can be made from wood, metal or plastic. It bears no resemblance whatsoever to any equine animals.