Shu and I were doing an acrostic puzzle this weekend, which we didn't finish. One clue we couldn't get was: "Engulfed to the patella"

I am not asking for the answer (though if you have it, feel free to reveal it!), but Shu and I did find that clue very odd. Can something be "engulfed" to something? I've heard engulfed by the flames or, as dictionary.com says, "He engulfed himself in his studies." But he didn't engulf himself to his studies.

Am I missing something? Perhaps if we knew the answer to the clue, it would all make sense.

I am engulfed in blancmange to the patella.

I think that possibly "Engulfed up to the patella" might be better, although that might change the meaning of the clue slightly.

It seems obvious to me, although the more common vernacular would have the engulfment a bit higher up and refer to a sphincter.

How many letters?

Is it eight letters?

more like seven

At a guess it's eight letters and grasshoppers come into it somewhere.

Grasshoppers? Gosh, I was thinking of gerbils!

On second thoughts, there are two eight-letter words that fit, in the absence of cross-lights, and one doesn't involve grasshoppers. It might involve animal droppings, though.

With "engulfed" in the clue think I'd go for the second choice.

But answering the original question, "engulfed to" sounds fine to me. Right now I'm engulfed to the ears with exam marking.

quote:

Is it eight letters

After realizing I misread the question, I agree.

Sorry...I've been out of commission for the last couple of days. It was 8 letters, you are correct.

I still think the "engulfed to" is an unclear use of the word, as did Shu. While something like a bursa could engulf the patella (though it doesn't), it wouldn't engulf to the patella. Apparently Shu and I are in the minority on this use of the word.

Wading through water you could be engulfed to the patella.

quote:

Wading through water you could be engulfed to the patella.

Or falling into an outhouse.