Jack-in-the-box part crossword clue
15 Down · WSJ Crossword, May 16, 2026 · 5 letters
Explanation
The answer to “Jack-in-the-box part” is CRANK. It appears as 15 Down in the Wall Street Journal crossword of May 16, 2026, a Saturday puzzle titled “F Is For...” by Zhouqin Burnikel, and it fills 5 squares running top to bottom from row 1, column 19 of the 21×21 grid.
The clue is a straightforward definition, so the answer is a direct synonym or a factual match for the words as written. The entry begins with C and ends with K, and contains 1 vowel and 4 consonants. If you are working from the crossings, two or three confirmed letters from the Across entries should be enough to lock it in. This weekend puzzle uses the largest grid of the week, so expect the rest of this grid to be pitched at the same level.
Past appearances
CRANK has not appeared as an answer in any other WSJ puzzle in our index, which runs from May 2026 onward. It will be listed here the next time it turns up.