Air in a sooty shaft?

The answer to the wordplay clue "Air in a sooty shaft?" is COALMIEN, a 8-letter word. In crosswords, a trailing question mark tells solvers to think creatively — the answer has a double meaning or the clue uses language in a playful, non-literal way. Wordplay clues are among the most satisfying to crack once the trick clicks. COALMIEN earns its place in the grid through its versatility as both a word and a concept.

See all clues for the answer COALMIEN.