"Doctor Who Might More Aptly Be Called A "Dogtor"" Crossword Clue
By: Five Letter Words | Last edited: Apr 25, 2025
Looking for the solution to the "Doctor who might more aptly be called a "dogtor"" crossword clue in the Apr 25, 2025 New York Times Mini puzzle? We've identified the precise 3-letter answer you need. To enhance your solving experience, we've developed interactive features that make discovering the answer more engaging. Use our letter-by-letter reveal option to gradually uncover the solution, or explore our carefully designed hints—including relevant anagrams, similar clues with the same answer, or comprehensive definitions to guide your thinking. We've also made it easy to navigate between related clues from the same puzzle for a seamless solving experience. Ready to discover what kind of doctor works primarily with animals? Let's explore the answer!
Crossword Answer:
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About This Clue
The April 25, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword featured the clue "Doctor who might more aptly be called a "dogtor"" with the answer VET. This clue uses wordplay to hint at a veterinarian, a medical professional who treats animals. The pun "dogtor" cleverly suggests a doctor for dogs, which is exactly what a veterinarian is, though they treat many other animals as well. This type of humorous wordplay is common in NYT Mini Crosswords, making them both challenging and entertaining.
Word Origins
The word "veterinarian" comes from the Latin word "veterinae," which referred to working animals like cattle and horses. The term evolved over time to encompass all animal medicine practitioners. "Vet" is simply a shortened form of veterinarian that came into common usage in the early 20th century as an informal way to refer to these animal doctors.
Interestingly, the word "vet" has a homonym that means to check or examine thoroughly, as in "to vet a candidate." This usage came from horse racing, where veterinarians would examine horses before races, and later expanded to other contexts of careful examination.
NYT Mini Crossword Tips
When solving clues involving professions or occupations in the NYT Mini Crossword, it's helpful to watch for wordplay and puns, as seen in this "dogtor" clue. The Mini Crossword often uses humor and clever language to hint at straightforward answers. For three-letter professions specifically, common answers include DOC, COP, CEO, and VET, among others.
Additionally, the NYT Mini frequently uses animal-related content, so being familiar with pet care, wildlife, and animal terminology can be useful. When you see a clue referencing animals or animal care, consider veterinary terms as possible answers. And remember that shorter answers like "VET" appear more frequently in the Mini puzzle format due to the 5×5 grid size.
Related Crossword Answers
VET
Clue: "Animal doctor"
VET
Clue: "Pet doc"
DVM
Clue: "Veterinarian's deg."
FIDO
Clue: "Common dog name"
More Clues & Answers For The New York Times Mini (April 25, 2025)
ACROSS
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- 8. Teeny-tiny bit
- 9. Doctor who might more aptly be called a "dogtor"