NY Times Crossword
August 25, 2005
Manny Nosowsky

The two words in each pair below have something to do with a legendary figure of the frontier west. Who is it, and what is the connection?

AEROSPACE and FLYWEIGHT
BRACELET and HEIGHTEN

Answer:

The figure is Wild Bill Hickok. The connection is ACES and EIGHTS, the "deadman's hand" in poker that Hickok was holding when he was shot and killed:

aerospACE and flywEIGHT
brACElet and hEIGHTen